Monday morning, May 4th, Sheriff Donnie Triplett turned in his resignation. What? Why? No one will say for sure but.....
Based on innuendos, blurps, and street talk, we think, on Friday, shirt hit the fan with everything coming to a head. At issue, duties never done, new duties needing done, attitude on telephone calls, response to telephone call ins and more. With other pressures on the Top Badge and with no money to make things happen nor proper staffing levels, Donnie said screw it all and quit.
While Donnie was not a ball of fire while in office, he did nothing to embarrass the county as his predecessors had done. Of course we thinking about Sheriff Douglas who took the county to Court over funding, Sheriff Holcomb who managed to embarrass us numerous times on a regional basis, and Sheriff Slack who wound up ousted as a convicted felon.
Donnie Triplett was not a speed ball but was stable in deed, practice and level headed.
With the Top Badge leaving on Monday, what's the hurry to replacing him? Well, it's the Sheriff that has to sign pay checks. No pay checks, you're going to have a nest of peed off hornets at the Courthouse.
So, also on Monday morning, all three Commissioners assembled at the Courthouse for a huddle.. After that gathering (a quorum), an emergency meeting was called and a meeting agenda was posted. See below.
Instead of typing, replace Donnie
Triplett, the emergency agenda read Donald J Holcomb. That
raised a few eyebrows. Was that a typo or was that a case of
typing one thing while thinking about the heir apparent.
The meeting was called for 24 hours later
on Tuesday May 5th. At meeting time, a revised agenda (see
above) was on hand with that handwritten change. Normally,
such a typo and or revision would not be allowed under State
Open Meetings Law. But! Emergency meeting rules are a little
different. Like, that emergency agenda can be posted for the
public just minutes before convening. So, that hand written
revision might be kosher had it been posted on the meeting
house door.
At 10am on May 5th,
all three Commissioners were on hand. In the peanut
gallery were Bailiff Gary King, Chief Deputy Ryan Thomas,
Clerk Mike Asbury, Prosecutor Jim Samples, and Green Shirt
Sergeant Burge
Green Shirt Sergeant Burge, left, and Prosecutor Samples
After a
phone call to the Poopster and 15 minute wait, Randy
Holcomb showed up for the appointing process.
Four candidate names were put forth, those interested in getting the Sheriff's job thru Dec 31st 2020. Hmmmm...
There was no posting for people to apply but somehow within a 20 hour period, four names were made public. Candidates include Shane Morton, Randy Holcomb, Keith Wray and Gary King.
Questions came on conflict of interest with Keith Wray since he does HVAC repairs at the Courthouse. Commissioner King: not a problem as long as he quits his work at the Courthouse.
As for someone ready to hit the deck a running, Commissioner Fitzwater raised the issue: Is Randy still certified as a Badge? On hand, Gary King said he was certified in several as a Bailiff. Stuff like, cuffing, pepper spraying, and hand gun use. Mr King added: I am not a certified Officer but am certified on a firearm.
With Gary on the job already and Randy being a former Top Badge, no mention was made of the other candidates.
With hesitation in the air and many heads down, Greg Fitzwater told the assembled: this is the worst decision I've had to make... I hate it that Donnie quit....
Questions came on appointing the replacement for 30 days or until Dec 31st when a newly elected Sheriff would take the reigns. Fran King insisted to to do this one time and make it for the duration of Donnie's term.
From the back of the room, Prosecutor Samples, the Commission's legal rep, suggested that they make a 30 day appointment which would give them time to get their heads together and make a more solid decision in June.
From the Franster: IF we appoint Gary King as Sheriff, would he get his Bailiff job back come Jan 1 2021? Fitzwater: Nope. It would be up to the new Sheriff to make that decision. There are no guarantees.
Gulp!
Note: Donnie Triplett is the only Demorat candidate on the ballot this year. The other contenders are Republicrats.
Fran: Can another Demorat be appointed for the Nov General Election? County Clerk Connie Workman: Donnie has not asked to have his name removed from the ballot. Jim Samples: the Demorat Committee can advance a name to go on the ballot 84 days before the Nov election.
When Samples was asked for more suggestions, Samples, "Just follow the law."
At 10:15am, and after more roving discussion, Samples again suggested the CCC take their time to make a long term appointment. He was pushing for a 30 day decision only for that morning.
Green Shirt Burge asked to comment. His input included: I have an interest in this county...there are lots of issues here... There is major crime here.... Things need ironed out ... You need a general idea of the problems ...State Police can handle the major calls .... I know there is little money and you are short handed....
The local Badge in charge of the Green Shirt Detachment asked that Black Shirts handle the run of the mill [BS] cases and they will do the other stuff.
Fran King advanced, there are other Badges in this county that could pitch in.
More questions came on conflict of interest issues since the Poopster serves on the Black Shirt Civil Service Board. Consensus, we think anyway, no conflict since the Board only handles testing.
Note: we think they also handle disciplinary stuff too.
With discussion turning to interviewing candidates, there was an attempt to go into secret time. One guy volunteered: Since you are not hiring an employee but rather hiring an elected official, you can't go secret. Handy Dandy Fran read something from her desk indicating, these interviews are required to be done in public.
At 10:40 and as the TV-3 camera showed up, the CCC did go secret for discussions with their attorney, Jim Samples. Those attorney / client secret times are allowed by law.
After just a few minutes of quiet time, everything opened up again.
CCC Prez Fitz announced, they planned to appoint a new Sheriff for just 30 days and take their time to evaluate candidates. That motion passed unanimously.
During very very brief and unscripted questions, Holcomb said his certificate to be a Badge was on hold and he would need several hours of class to get the certificate reinstated.
Both candidates. Holcomb and King, were OK with taking a 30 day appointment.
Fran asked Holcomb if he would agree to keep the current staff on the job if appointed. He replied in the affirmative.
Greg Fitzwater asked no questions during the interviews.
Fitz asked for guidance on the hiring process. One at a time or both at the same time. There was confusion and hesitation in the room.After asking for a motion, pause.... heads went down....silence. Finally, Connie Kinder made th emotion to hire Poopy Holcomb. Silence.... silence... Finally Fitz seconded the motion. All eyes were on the Franster who turned side wards to look at her fellow elected officer. She was in the hot seat. Finally, Fran "ayed" the motion but with a caveat. Fran, " Aye, but for 30 days only!
Motion passed. Randy Holcomb is the new temporary Top Badge for County Clay. Holcomb: I will do the best I can... Its a mess every place.
Four candidate names were put forth, those interested in getting the Sheriff's job thru Dec 31st 2020. Hmmmm...
There was no posting for people to apply but somehow within a 20 hour period, four names were made public. Candidates include Shane Morton, Randy Holcomb, Keith Wray and Gary King.
Questions came on conflict of interest with Keith Wray since he does HVAC repairs at the Courthouse. Commissioner King: not a problem as long as he quits his work at the Courthouse.
As for someone ready to hit the deck a running, Commissioner Fitzwater raised the issue: Is Randy still certified as a Badge? On hand, Gary King said he was certified in several as a Bailiff. Stuff like, cuffing, pepper spraying, and hand gun use. Mr King added: I am not a certified Officer but am certified on a firearm.
With Gary on the job already and Randy being a former Top Badge, no mention was made of the other candidates.
With hesitation in the air and many heads down, Greg Fitzwater told the assembled: this is the worst decision I've had to make... I hate it that Donnie quit....
Questions came on appointing the replacement for 30 days or until Dec 31st when a newly elected Sheriff would take the reigns. Fran King insisted to to do this one time and make it for the duration of Donnie's term.
From the back of the room, Prosecutor Samples, the Commission's legal rep, suggested that they make a 30 day appointment which would give them time to get their heads together and make a more solid decision in June.
From the Franster: IF we appoint Gary King as Sheriff, would he get his Bailiff job back come Jan 1 2021? Fitzwater: Nope. It would be up to the new Sheriff to make that decision. There are no guarantees.
Gulp!
Note: Donnie Triplett is the only Demorat candidate on the ballot this year. The other contenders are Republicrats.
Fran: Can another Demorat be appointed for the Nov General Election? County Clerk Connie Workman: Donnie has not asked to have his name removed from the ballot. Jim Samples: the Demorat Committee can advance a name to go on the ballot 84 days before the Nov election.
When Samples was asked for more suggestions, Samples, "Just follow the law."
At 10:15am, and after more roving discussion, Samples again suggested the CCC take their time to make a long term appointment. He was pushing for a 30 day decision only for that morning.
Green Shirt Burge asked to comment. His input included: I have an interest in this county...there are lots of issues here... There is major crime here.... Things need ironed out ... You need a general idea of the problems ...State Police can handle the major calls .... I know there is little money and you are short handed....
The local Badge in charge of the Green Shirt Detachment asked that Black Shirts handle the run of the mill [BS] cases and they will do the other stuff.
Fran King advanced, there are other Badges in this county that could pitch in.
More questions came on conflict of interest issues since the Poopster serves on the Black Shirt Civil Service Board. Consensus, we think anyway, no conflict since the Board only handles testing.
Note: we think they also handle disciplinary stuff too.
With discussion turning to interviewing candidates, there was an attempt to go into secret time. One guy volunteered: Since you are not hiring an employee but rather hiring an elected official, you can't go secret. Handy Dandy Fran read something from her desk indicating, these interviews are required to be done in public.
At 10:40 and as the TV-3 camera showed up, the CCC did go secret for discussions with their attorney, Jim Samples. Those attorney / client secret times are allowed by law.
After just a few minutes of quiet time, everything opened up again.
CCC Prez Fitz announced, they planned to appoint a new Sheriff for just 30 days and take their time to evaluate candidates. That motion passed unanimously.
During very very brief and unscripted questions, Holcomb said his certificate to be a Badge was on hold and he would need several hours of class to get the certificate reinstated.
Both candidates. Holcomb and King, were OK with taking a 30 day appointment.
Fran asked Holcomb if he would agree to keep the current staff on the job if appointed. He replied in the affirmative.
Greg Fitzwater asked no questions during the interviews.
Fitz asked for guidance on the hiring process. One at a time or both at the same time. There was confusion and hesitation in the room.After asking for a motion, pause.... heads went down....silence. Finally, Connie Kinder made th emotion to hire Poopy Holcomb. Silence.... silence... Finally Fitz seconded the motion. All eyes were on the Franster who turned side wards to look at her fellow elected officer. She was in the hot seat. Finally, Fran "ayed" the motion but with a caveat. Fran, " Aye, but for 30 days only!
Motion passed. Randy Holcomb is the new temporary Top Badge for County Clay. Holcomb: I will do the best I can... Its a mess every place.
Our newest Top Badge, Randy Holcomb
Randy Holcomb has run
for office since leaving his previous term as Sheriff. In
that contest, the voters of Clayberry overwhelmingly voted
down his attempt to return to the public trough. He wasn't
even a second place finisher. Yet, our County Commission
decide to go against voters wishes and put him back in
office. Does that make sense to anybody?