The date has finally been set to determine whether the county commissioners can fire the local board of assessors.
Superior Court Judge John Bailey will hear arguments at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 8, in the commissioners’ meeting room concerning the BOC’s termination of the board of assessors.
The commissioners voted in April to dismiss BOA chairman David Ragland and assessor board members Larry Stewart, Samantha Garland and Jim Escoe.
“We do not relish taking this action, but rather do so reluctantly,” the commissioners stated in their termination letter to the BOA.
“This decision was reached only after much deliberation and anguish that led us to conclude that there is simply no alternative and that this action must be taken for the good of the county.”
The commissioners say the assessors have failed to submit tax digests by deadline, that they failed to secure a chief appraiser, that there has been constant turmoil among BOA members and that a 2008 Department of Revenue audit revealed numerous assessment problems.
Meanwhile, BOA members say the commissioners have hindered the assessors’ ability to do their jobs.
“With all due respect, I feel that the action of the board of commissioners in seeking to remove me and other members of the board of tax assessors is another step in the repeated and improper attempts of the board of commissioners to control and interfere with the independence of the board of tax assessors,” wrote Ragland in the BOA members’ response to their dismissal. “My removal, and the removal of my colleagues on the board of tax assessors, would set a precedent that would further the commissioners’ attempts to dominate and control the board of tax assessors. In my opinion, contesting the removal would further independence of the board of tax assessors and would thus serve the best interests of the people of Madison County.”
So why is Rubio still around? She quit? Then didn't quit. Then quit again? Do we really want to have a drop-of-the-hat drama queen quitter in a position of responsibility?
Sounds like Sarah Palin.
Are you telling us that Anthony Dove was planning to USE Stacey Rubio only to get the job done until his selection could be installed, then it was to be "out the door, Ms. Rubio"? What kind of gratitude was that?
A "drop-of-the-hat drama queen quitter" -- you have a way with words, Anonymous!
THE ONLY ONE IN THE OFFICE QUALIFIED/CERTIFIED TO SIGN OFF
ON THE TAX DIGEST.
sit at and drink tax payers paid coffee while they
are letting the code enforcment officer drag the county
down with trash everywhere since he can't seem to handle
his job duties of code/animal control officer as he is
hired to do! The county needs to clean up a lot of
trash both inside the office and outside on the roads
where is our fearless know it all Dove? sitting in the
a/c behind a new table of course with all his puppets!