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LETTER: In response to Escoe’s letter about the BOC

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Letter to the Editor

in Opinions

Friday, January 8. 2010

Comments (14)

Dear Editor:

In response to the letter to the editor from Jim Escoe. I feel the need to defend the BOC and make clear what happened to the BOA.

If you remember when Mr. Escoe was a member of the BOA, there was always controversy. They didn’t okay a digest for several years, causing the tax notices to be late being mailed.

Also they couldn’t agree on hiring a chief appraiser, because the BOA couldn’t work together to do what was necessary to get the digest out and to hire a chief appraiser.

After being given more than ample time, the board of commissioners was forced to fire Mr. Escoe and the other board members.

The BOA couldn’t accept what was best for the taxpayers, so they hired an attorney at the taxpayers expense to try to keep their seats on the BOA.

The judge overwhelmingly ruled in favor of the board of commissioners.

The BOC hired three new members rather than five.

Yes, it is true what Mr. Escoe said about the BOA’s budget being $8,400, and it is true the meetings are shorter, mainly because there is no controversy and they are taking care of business.

What Mr. Escoe failed to tell the public is that while he was in office, the budget was a whopping $17,200 which is more than twice the present BOA’s budget.

Mr. Escoe also mentioned county employees losing part of their holiday pay.

The BOC worked long hard hours on the 2010 budget, and while the state and most of the counties around us are having layoffs, cutting back services and furloughing, Madison County managed to keep every employee on the job. The only thing we had to do was to take part of the holiday pay.

In this article Mr. Escoe stated ignorance is bliss, and after carefully reading his article I couldn’t agree with him more.

I stand ready to discuss any part of this letter or any part of the county budget with anyone who would care to.

Sincerely,

John Pethel Sr.

District 2 Commissioner

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#1 A-non on 01/08/10 at 07:12 AM [Reply]

Well here we go, this should create a lot of interesting comments. I do feel Commissioner Pethel has stated the facts where Mr. Esco failed to do so. My point the budget comparision $17200 vs $8400 if Mr Esco is so concerned about how much money the BOA makes per minute then do a quality comparison. Why was the previous board given twice as much money? If you look you will find the previous board spent allmost everything in their budget for the past several years. It appears to me the current board is getting the job done in less time and less of a budget, also the tax bills are completed so why should meetings last for hours at a time? I would hope they are using good time management and are working on the new digest,conservation applications, working with the Chief Appraiser, etc. Mr. Esco has stated in the past he has a lot to say--well let's hear it but make sure it's the documented fact's and stop the rambling around taking shots at the BOC.

Why was Commissioner Pethel the only board member to speak up? Thank you Commissioner Pethel!! How about the rest of the board?

#1.1 Anonymous on 01/08/10 at 03:03 PM [Reply]

Will Escoe refund us all that money he wasted? Escoe? Hello? Have you refunded any of the money you accepted?

#2 D'ville Kid on 01/08/10 at 09:18 AM [Reply]

Commissioner Pethel, how much of the taxpayers money have you spent on the Sam Bruce Road? The latest figures I am aware of is $200,000 and still climbing, just the county's part. It takes a real ego to spend that kind of taxpayer money Mr. Pethel! Duty to defend one's position is in the eye of the beholder! Let's have a discussion about what is in the best interest of the taxpayers. I guess you just "can't accept" that fact either!

#3 Lester Roadhog on 01/08/10 at 02:37 PM [Reply]

The reason you don't have any controversy now is that the current BOA is practicing the THREE BLIND MONKEYS method. You know see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil, just pass the check please!

#4 Anonymous on 01/08/10 at 02:43 PM [Reply]

The budget goes from 17200 to 8400. Well, they must of slashed education, office expenses, and other items. Postage, salaries, etc. would remain the same.
To say the reason for the decrease is due to the new board is crazy, they are just approving what is brought to them as a board. Along with anything else if you want to get down to it.
Mr. Escoe was blasted by the commissioners during the firing process by the county attorney for writing letters to the editor. "This is not a proper form of communication" when you are a board member. What does this say for John Pethel? Not much in my opinion.

#5 anony on 01/08/10 at 04:57 PM [Reply]

Mr. Pethel, perhaps you will answer this question. What is the highest education level anyone on the BOC has? Has any one of you ever ran a successful business?

#6 Anonymous on 01/08/10 at 07:35 PM [Reply]

"The judge overwhelmingly ruled in favor of the Board of Commissioners"???? Yeah right that whole court thing was a sham from the start. The judge was NEVER going to rule in favor of the BOA. There were other people involved behind the scenes. The county attorney had made it plain also that whatever the judge said that the county still intended to remove the BOA no matter what. Mr. Pethel considering the cards were stacked against the BOA at the begining I think your crowing about this victory has a very hollow ring. Only a bully and an idiot gloats about a giant beating an underdog!

#6.1 Resident Redneck on 01/09/10 at 12:32 PM [Reply]

Amen but as I see it the BOA may not have been doing their jobs BUT has and is the BOC doing their jobs? Nope because the roads in this County are getting worse and worse and there is other problems that the BOC is in charge of fixing that hasn't been fixed. They always want to bring up the budget saying the money is not there but it is always someone elses fault. Either someone else stole money from the County, or the state won't give them funding.
I can say my personal budget for 2010 is $100. but we all know that is bull. I don't care how low you set the budget take the money and fix what needs to be fixed or Danielsville may become a ghost town.

#7 Resident Redneck on 01/08/10 at 08:39 PM [Reply]

Yep it's easy to talk bad about someone after they are gone. AND has anyone figured out why the new BOA meetings don't take as long? They say it's because Mr. Escoe isn't there causing the controversy? Not true, has anyone thought about the fact that the BOA must have been hand picked by the BOC? That way the BOC tells them when to vote, what to vote on, and how to vote. That's got to be it because I don't remember an election after they fired the old BOA so I didn't elect this new BOA. The new BOA are puppets and the BOC is pulling the strings.

#8 Anonymous on 01/09/10 at 09:48 PM [Reply]

Mr. Pethel talks about $17,200 for the previous BOA but that was for five people and their certification classes. Now you have $8,400 for three people. That's just for their expensive 15 minutes. Now, what about their cerification and education? Oh I forgot the BOC likes them dumb and uncertified. That way the BOC can lead them around by the nose.

#9 Learner on 01/14/10 at 07:20 PM [Reply]

It is my understanding that the BOA must be independent of the BOC by state law. If this is true, then how could the BOC justify coercing the BOA to vote according to BOC wishes?

#9.1 Resident Redneck on 01/15/10 at 03:13 PM [Reply]

Ok Learner I'm going to teach you and maybe someone can teach me too because I don't understand this either. If the BOA must be independent of the BOC by state law then how did the BOC fire the BOA? And the new BOA was hired by thw BOC then the new BOA was hired by the BOC so that tells me the BOC runs the BOA snd you brought up another intersting point If the BOA and BOC are supposed to be independent of each other where did the BOC get the power to fire anyone? That would be like the Sheriff firing someone who works for the county the Sheriff could recommend that they be fired to their Department head but one department can't fire another department. If that were true a Deputy could go in the probate courts office and get mad and fire a clerk in that office. THAT WOULD BE STUPID.

#9.2 M taxpayor on 01/15/10 at 04:37 PM [Reply]

Can BOA ask state if they can re-evaluate all conservation tax parcels and if given OK then I say we do so.

#9.3 Anonymous on 01/16/10 at 08:53 AM [Reply]

You are exactly correct "Learner". The BOA is supposed to be independent body of the taxation system. The law plainly states that the BOA shall be a independent enity. However, in certain counties, this seperation becomes flawed due to the interference of the BOC and their mis-use of political power and position.
Many times, the previous BOA would notify the officials that the digest was not as accurate as the data should be. IE, land schedules, city influence factors, cost schedules, multipliers, etc..This resulted in a audit from the Dept. of Revenue, which in fact stated that the BOA's suspensions were correct..(BOA asked for the audit).
Unfortuntately, when the BOC has the ability to allow or deny proper funding for a qualified chief appraiser, qualified staff, and education, this becomes a mute point.
The BOC was notified many times by the BOA.."the digest was not the quality of standard that the BOA was desiring". The BOC quickly stated, in an open meeting,that we can take care of this next year. "We just need to get this digest out". Understandingly so, however; next year seems to flow into the next year and the next year.
I am sure that the previous BOA had flaws just as any serving board in this state. Unless, the current Board of Commissioners, restrain their opinions and allow the BOA to complete their jobs within the specifications of the guidelines of the Dept. of Revenue, these type of issues will continue.
The BOA must be an independant entity, free of any input from the BOC. Unfortuntely, in this county, there are often too many political agendas and egotistical personalities to get the job done and get the job done without having backlashes.
The BOA will never have complete control of the Chief Appraiser nor its staff which is determinetal to the tax process in this county. The new "At Will" employment policy,implemented by the current BOC,can cause a detrimental working environment.
In other words, if you do not do as I say, not as I do, you will be looking for a new job.
Often times, I think that Madison County has become a dictatorship to a certain degree. Unless, our county employees can come to work and not feel pressured by the new employement policy, the new Chief Appraiser can do his/her job without unnecessary BOC interference we will be talking about this years to come.
I, myself, plan to move from this county in the coming years due to this type of behavior and the sprawling mill rate that we are all being subjective to yearly.

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