County Commission Meets
Dec 27th
County Clerk Connie Workman, who is favor of the changes and explained key items.
As best we can figure it out.... Voters will still have a paper ballot, instead of marking the ballots, each ballot will be placed inside a handy dandy electronic thing y poo which is about the size of a computer "tablet". Instead of using a pencil, you make your choice on the screen followed by giving back the completed ballot to the poll worker who deposits the paper trail in the big blue metal boxes as usual.
After you mark the paper ballot the voter will be able to see the completed ballot before is goes into the blue containers.
All counting will continue to be done, in public, back at the Courthouse.
During questioning, Ms Workman explained, neither machine used at the polling place nor the counter at the Courthouse will be in any way connected to the internet or telephone line.
Back 18 years ago we spoke out against the first round of electronic tabulator equipment ($25K). We thought the County was heading down the wrong road.
It turned out, that old system and maybe the new system now was , will be, a plus in many ways. No longer was there a counting at the polling place where shenanigans were possible and the whole process became much quicker.
As for using straight paper ballots here in the 21st century, there's a problem. Poll workers are in short supply in part due to FOX entertainment spreading questionable news on poll workers doing shady things with ballots. During the Nov election, Workman had just enough, barley enough, workers to conduct the election.
It was a unanimous vote in favor of the purchasing the digital upgrade. Cost: $198,706.00 with half of the $$$ coming from the Sec of State's coffers.
Agenda item 10 was a request from Circuit Clerk elect Clarissa Hanshaw to hire a new part time worker for the Circuit Clerk's office. Out going Commissioner Fran King spotted the problem with Circuit Clerk elect Hanshaw making the request. Hanshaw was not in office at the time of this meeting. King said you can only have one elected Clerk at a time and Hanshaw ain't in charge at this time.
From the back of the room, Black Shirt Randy Holcomb, a two time Top Badge, stood and agreed with King but but but, according to Holcomb, it's been done before.
The motion passed and newbee Cheyenne Truman was hired.
Item 11 was all about politics.
The agenda item was to fire 911 Director Becky Pritt right then and there, BOOM, on the spot. Here goes with the back room dealings that County Clay is famous for.
Before the May Primary election, sitting Commissioner Dave Schoolcraft made election year promises to 911 workers, including, if you elect Joyce Johnson (my good buddy) and toss out incumbent Fran King I will see you get a $5 per hour raise. We know that's true because Badge Holcomb said as much during an earlier CCC meeting when Schoolcraft placed those raises on the agenda for a vote. While Holcomb was making that dirt public, Schoolcraft held his head down and said nothing.
During the election run, Schoolcraft also promised to get rid of Ms Pritt and put into office, Joyce Johnson's son, JD Johnson. If you think that is shady election year crapola, it is but worser things have happened in the Land of Little. But that's another story for another time.
Well, Johnson got elected with the help of Schoolcraft pushing her name. Because JD is her son and lives in the same "abode" as his mother, there is a conflict of interest issue on ANYTHING related to Clay 911 and Commissioner Johnson voting for whatever it is. Translation: Once Johnson gets sworn in, she could not vote to get rid of Pritt because it would benefit her family member, her son, JD Johnson.
Now, there's another problem.
When the issue of tossing Pritt comes up on a 2023 agenda, Joyce Johnson has to leave the room and not participate in the vote. That leaves two to vote on the motion. Where's the tie breaker?. See the problem readers. 2023 might be interesting.
As for the motion to fire Becky Pritt, Schoolcraft was Aye and Connie Kinder and Fran King were nays. County Clerk Connie Workman is usually a none speaking official during CCC meeting. With the vote cast, Ms Workman: WHY??? Connie Kinder: I don't want to.... [I] want to give her time to get her paperwork in order.
We think Kinder was talking about Pritt getting her retirement papers in order. Just a guess but makes sense.
On this topic, during the discussion, Joyce Johnson was seated in the peanut gallery. Looking out the corner of his eye , the Ace Cub Reporter's spotted what looked like Joyce making a cell phone text to her son. JD showed up right after the no vote. He went up front and spoke to Dave Schoolcraft briefly before storming out of the meeting room.
Randy Holcomb on the right
Black Shirt Holcomb got reaaaal emotional as he spoke high praises for his long time buddy, Fran King. He thanked Fran for her years of service and started a round of applause for her. Tears were seen on Holcomb's face
Those crocodile tears, we think he learned those from O G King who could bring em on in a split second.
And now the show stopper. Fran King was asked to speak. Boy, she did too!
With Commissioner Schoolcraft seated right beside her, King wanted all to know she was leaving the Commission in much better financial shape , except the jail bill, than when she took her seat 6 years earlier.
She said things were done behind her back... like, when she was on vacation and without her prior knowledge, Dave Schoolcraft pushed thru the purchase of a new 911 tower site. That deal was to give Joe Paxton a sweet $25,000 deal. She mentioned that David Whaling had given the county a good deal, the 20 year lease agreement at minimal cost, and "We broke the agreement." Somewhere in there King said no prop study had been completed before the purchase to insure the new location would actually work.
Schoolcraft tried to dispute King's words but Commissioner Kinder chimed in with: You didn't tell me anything ahead of time!
Round 2 was when Ms King announced to the public that Dave Schoolcraft was receiving a homestead exemption on the taxes for his home in Maysel. Commissioner Schoolcraft is well under the age to receive such a tax reduction. You might want to remember that in Feb when you can complain about your tax burdens. Fran King, "That makes me mad!"
Back a few months ago, Schoolcraft pushed for hefty raises for 911 workers. That motion was shot down. Here comes Round 3....
Ms King was peed big time that Badges make starvation wages while a part timer made more..... the Budget is tight but there are ways to give Badges wages, King, "Our budget is tight but the $ could be better spent... raises have been given to others but not the Badges.... It's very sad."
After unloading that for all to hear, Fran told the peanut gallery: I hope progress continues on ERTS... that trail can be an economic boost if done right... I hope the CCC chooses good board appointment.... and It's been a pleasure.
With applause in the air and accolades from around the room, Commissioner Kinder told Fran: I appreciate your work.... You will be missed.
Commissioner Schoolcraft had no words, good words or otherwise, for Fran King who wasn't quite ready to end the meeting.
With all Badges in attendance, Fire Chief Mike Scott asked about pay for Badges. Fran said a beginning Black Shirt starts at $14,000 per year while 911 workers garner $11 per hour. As for the CCC writing grants for extra money and workers, that hasn't been done
With most of her thunder spent, a guy from the gallery asked about the county receiving $30 million or so for building out the old Fola mine site with the new $$$ going toward building a hotel, building new housing on the same site, and road improvements. Holcomb said he had heard similar rumors. Dustin Fitzwater from the BDA suggested that everyone attend the Jan 9th BDA meeting over in Two Run for details on the deal.
Fran King has been a hard working elected official for the last 6 years. She really will be missed as Dave Schoolcraft's trait of keeping things quiet will take center stage.
We named Fran the Mouth of the South a few years ago. She earned that title during this Dec 27th public meeting. It was refreshing to say the least.
Good bye Fran