Dear Mr. Dunn

James Dunn, I am really disappointed in you.  Why is it that you think as President of the Board of Supervisors you can refuse to call a vote on another Supervisor's motion that has been seconded. 


The disrespect you continue to show to other Supervisors is...hmmm, not nice.  Just because you are the President of the Board of Supervisors does not mean you can refuse to honor their motions.  And yet, meeting after meeting you continue to act like you are the King of Tunica County.


I do wish there was a way for you to be removed as the President of the Board of Supervisors in Tunica County.  I don't believe you have Tunica County's best interests in mind.  Each time you disrespect another Supervisor you are disrespecting each and every citizen who is in attendance.

Dear Sheriff Hamp

This is what the MS Code says about your position and the Board of Supervisors:


19-3-25 (2013)


"The sheriff of the county shall attend all meetings of the board of supervisors, either in person or by deputy, and shall execute all its process and orders."


Notice this statement says nothing about sitting at the Board of Supervisors' table.  This statement says nothing about you participating in their discussions.  And...this statement says nothing about you arguing with a Supervisor who asks you to remove yourself from the Board's table.


It seems to me Sheriff that your job is to serve and protect the citizens of Tunica County.  Personally, I feel protected and safe in the Town of Tunica but as soon as I leave the town limits, I no longer feel protected and safe.  And you know whose fault that is Sheriff?  Yours.

27 Feb 2014 Board of Supervisors' Meeting

27 Feb 2014: Board of Supervisors’ Meeting @ 5p

 

Thank you for your appointment this evening.

 

We have a few questions we hope can be answered tonight.  The questions are about the 501c3 status of our Component Units.  These Component Units are:

 

Component Unit	Yes	No
Tunica County Airport Commission
Tunica County Arena and Expo Center
Tunica County Museum, Inc.	Yes
Tunica County National Public Improvement District
Tunica County Public Projects, Inc.
Tunica County Tourism Commission
Tunica County Utility District

 

1. Are all of the above units 501c3?
2. What is the purpose of the request for this status under the IRS codes?
3. Under the recent Independent Audit, we became aware of both Tunica County Public Projects, Inc. and Tunica County Tourism Commission objecting to opening their books for Mr. Thompson.  The Transparency Committee received a letter of objection from Tunica County Public Projects, Inc. objecting to providing information about expenses and income to the public.  (This letter is now part of the Public Records.)  The question is: Can these Component Units keep from the Public their financial information when they are asked to allow the Public to see their records?

 During our research we found yet another 501c3 that gave us pause.  The name of this entity is called Sports Unlimited of Tunica, Inc. and shows Billy Willis as the Registered Agent.  Why would our Parks and Recreation Director need a 501c3 such as this?  We couldn’t get an answer from the former County Administrator.  We are hoping Mr. Thompson can shed some light on this situation.

 
Note: The chart above will be edited once Mr. Thompson's research is complete.  Additionally, we need to make sure everyone who reads this blog knows that the Tunica County Museum, Inc. had no problem in disclosing all of their records to Mr. Thompson.

Claims:

 

Attached to this report is a copy of the information we sent to the MS State Auditor.  The Transparency Committee was concerned about 2 claims that were paid on 30 Nov 2011.  This would be with the approval of the former Board of Supervisors.  We are hoping with the new County Administrator and Comptroller we will be able to put this concern to rest.

  

The claims were paid to Gold Strike Casino in the amounts of $5,738.94 and $5,971.25 for a total of $11,710.19.  These two claims were charged to the Sheriff’s Department.  I was told 2 different things by MS State Auditor Earl Smith.

 

The first was told to me by phone.  I was told the former County Administrator told Mr. Smith this was a coding error and should have been coded for Homeland Security and paid for with 2 Homeland Security Grants (Jun 2010 and Aug 2011).  For me to accept this would mean I would have to believe an Accounting Clerk, the Tunica County Comptroller, the County Administrator and all 5 Supervisors missed this error.

The second was told to me via email from Mr. Smith after I requested another review.  In this second scenario Mr. Smith said these expenses were paid for with grants awarded to the Sheriff’s Department in 2011.

Hmmm, which is true?  Tonight we are submitting a Freedom of Information letter to get to the bottom of this expense.

Election Commission:

On 19 Dec 2013, our Committee reported to you that we were no longer going to deal with the Election Commission.  We are going to come right to you, the Board of Supervisors, with our concerns.

Mr. Dunn, last year you asked the former County Administrator to look into getting the Election Commission minutes transcribed to a format that was not handwritten.  To the best of my knowledge, this has not been done.  Can you make this happen?

We will be looking at the voter rolls before the 2014 Mid-Terms.  I’m hoping they will be in order and additionally, I hope the Election Commission is able to count our 12 little precincts on the same evening as the election.

Tonight we are passing on to the Tunica County Board of Supervisors information we were given about the residency of Supervisor Burnett.  This information says that Cedric and Tasha Burnett live at 4653 Range View Circle in Memphis, TN   38128-1599.  There is an AT&T landline going to this residence (901) 382-2037.

There are many of us in this County who are way past this foolishness.  We have serious problems and we need 5 working Supervisors to solve these problems.  We need 5 Supervisors who are fully invested in Tunica County by residing within his or her Beat.  One has to ask: Why are we putting up with this dishonesty?

 

Why are we putting up with Supervisor Burnett not approving the Claims but cashing his paycheck?  Do we have any problems in our other Beats with the residency of the Supervisor?  Dunn?  Nickson? Daley? Williams?  Burnett?


Note: During the meeting each Supervisor was asked if they "resided" in their Beat.  Nickson, Daley and Williams stated that they did live in their Beats.  Dunn told me to continue with my report and Burnett didn't answer.

In the election of 2011, Tasha Burnett voted at the R. C. Irwin Library.  This I know to be true as I was the Poll Watcher at this Precinct.  I do not believe Tasha lives or has ever lived in Tunica County.  The question is, what are the other 4 Supervisors going to do about this?  Are you going to investigate this information or are you going to let this information go in one ear and out of the other?  Change is moving much too slowly in Tunica County.  Are you going to look into this information or not?  And if not, why not?  The rest of you have to reside in your Beats.  Why aren’t you demanding the same of Burnett?

 

Phillis, we know it has been hard for you to stand up for change in our County.  Your willingness to stand-up for what is right has not gone unnoticed.  Tunica County needs you to continue to vote with Nickson and Daley for this change.  You are the first woman to be elected to serve on the Tunica County Board of Supervisors.  We are counting on your vote to help make Tunica County a better place to live and work for all of our citizens and not just the few.

6 Jul 2011                                                                         Page 1 of 3

 

TO:            MS Office of the State Auditor

Phone:      601-576-2800

FAX:          601-576-2686

From:        Barbara Tuchel

Phone:      662-671-9481

FAX:          662-363-1346

RE:            Tunica County Sheriff Expense

I am writing to ask for another review of the complaint sent to you on 1 Feb 2011.

After speaking with Earl Smith, it is my understanding that the claims noted in the original complaint were paid for by two Homeland Security Grants.  The first was in Jun 2010 and the second in Aug 2011.

Reasons for asking for another review:

1. These expenses were charged to the Sheriff’s Dept (200) instead of Homeland Security/Emergency Management (280).
2. The Manager of Homeland Security/Emergency Management is Randy Stewart.  Stewart is also the Chief Deputy in the Sheriff’s Dept.
3. When the Board of Supervisors approves the Sheriff’s annual budget it does not include control of the Homeland Security/Emergency Management funds.  These are two separate budget items.
4. It is concerning that the Tunica County Administrator is going back 2 years to use funds from a Homeland Security Grant to pay for an expense in Nov 2011.
5. The statement in item #4 above does not fit the mo of how monies are spent in Tunica County.  Example:  On 29 Feb 2012, the Board of Supervisors approved a Homeland Security Grant (233) for $300,000.00.  When the claims for Feb 2012 were paid on 5 Mar 2012, the docket included $101,499.45 from this Grant.  This Grant was not approved by the Board of Supervisors before funds were spent.
6. It is too coincidental that the $11,710.19 just happened to be spent in Nov 2012, the same month as the election.

Page 1 of 2 Sent 1 Feb 2012

TO:            MS Office of the State Auditor

Phone:      601-576-2800

FAX:          601-576-2686

From:        Barbara Tuchel

Phone:      662-671-9481

FAX:          662-363-1346

RE:            Tunica County Sheriff Expense

Following please find the internet form from your website.  I was unsuccessful in submitting this complaint online.

Please acknowledge you have received this complaint by sending a message to my email at: tuchelsgal@bellsouth.net.

IV: Allegation and of facts:

This allegation was observed by reading the claims for the month of Nov. 2011.  These records are in the Public Records Office.  I am a Whistleblower and a member of Tunicans for Transparency in Government.  Quite frankly, our committee has just about given up in getting the absolute truth when we question our government.  We are turning to your Department for help.

The following was paid along with other Tunica County claims:

Claim: 11316

Vendor: 3304 Gold Strike Casino

Invoice: 278-A

Date Paid: 30 Nov 2011

Fund-Dept-Objective: 001-200-476 (200= Sheriff’s Dept.)

Description: Meals and Lodging

Amount: $5,738.94

Claim: 11316

Vendor: 3304 Gold Strike Casino

Invoice: 278A

Date Paid: 30 Nov 2011

Fund-Dept-Objective: 001-200-476 (200=Sheriff’s Dept.)

Description: Meals and Lodging

Amount: $5,971.25

Total Amount of Check: $11,710.19

I have called the Gold Strike Casino and was told that a LaTonya Hamp is employed.  I have no idea if this has any relevance to this complaint or not.  Additionally, I’ve been told but have no way of verifying that the Sheriff  hosted a party at Gold Strike after the election.

 

Notes: 26 Jun 2012: Spoke with Earl Smith in the State Auditor’s Office.  This was investigated and was paid for with Homeland Security Grants from Jun 2010 and Aug 2011.   All we can do is question or Board of Supervisors each and every time they approve these grants.

 

 

27 Feb 2014: Hand delivered at Board of Supervisors’ Meeting @ 5p

                           

 

Dear Mr. Wiley:

 

Pursuant to the state open records law, MS Code Sections 25-61-1 to 25-61-17, I write to request copies of the supporting documents for the following claims:

 

Claim: 11316

Vendor: 3304 Gold Strike Casino

Invoice: 278-A

Date Paid: 30 Nov 2011

Fund-Dept-Objective: 001-200-476 (200= Sheriff’s Dept.)

Description: Meals and Lodging

Amount: $5,738.94/

Claim: 11316

Vendor: 3304 Gold Strike Casino

Invoice: 278A

Date Paid: 30 Nov 2011

Fund-Dept-Objective: 001-200-476 (200=Sheriff’s Dept.)

Description: Meals and Lodging

Amount: $5,971.25

I
t is provided by the MS open records law that a response is expect within fourteen (14) business days (MS Code Section 25-61-5(1)).  If you choose to deny this request, please provide a written explanation for the denial including a reference to the specific statutory exemption(s) upon which you rely.

Please be advised that I am prepared to pursue whatever legal remedy necessary to obtain access to the requested records.   I would note that willful violation of the open records law can result in a fine of up to $100 and all reasonable litigation expenses (MS Code Section 25-61-15).

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Barbara R. Tuchel

Cc:       Michael Thompson

            Ellis Pittman

            Robert Tuchel

 

          

 

Transparency Meeting

Tunicans for Transparency in Government will hold its meeting on Saturday, Feb 8, at 1 pm in the R.C. Irwin Library.  All adult residents of Tunica County and all elected officials of Tunica County are welcome to attend.  Please contact Barbara if you plan to attend.

3 Feb 2014 Stennis Salary Survey

3 Feb 2014: Board of Supervisors’ Meeting @ 5p

 

Thank you for your appointment this evening.

 

In Jun 2013 the Board of Supervisors authorized a salary survey through the Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development at Mississippi State University.  (Resolution found in Book 158 beginning on page 470)  This salary survey cost $11,000.00.

 

This survey was to be completed in time to be used in the 2013-2014 budgeting process.  The printed report is dated November 26, 2013.  Perhaps preprint information was provided to the former County Administrator.  We don’t know.  What we do know is this information was not reflected in the 2013-2014 Tunica County Budget.

 

For the work to begin on this project, the former County Administrator was to provide “a list of all Tunica County employees that includes first and last name, department, job title, current salary and length of employment with the county; and copies of any pay scales or compensation plans currently used by the county.”

 

The final report does not include the names of individual employees which makes parts of the charts difficult to use.  However, we were able to glean important facts from the dialog and the charts.

 

Here is what we found:

 

1. Page 1: “In 2000, Stennis Institute of Government conducted Tunica County’s first salary survey, establishing compensation levels for the described jobs, and developing a wage and salary scale utilizing employment grade and steps within grades.”  Oh, really?  Then how is it that when the Transparency Committee asked for this information, including job descriptions, we were told they didn’t exist?

 

2. Not all employees were included.  Under Administration, the former County Administrator left out: himself, Jason Lloyd and John Pickett, III.  All of the AOP and Youth Services were omitted.    We did find one entry that could possibly be attributed to a Youth Court Counselor.  We may have missed something and are open to correction.

 

3. Page 26: “Caddo Parish, LA with a population of 254,969 has 30 more employees than Tunica County.”  Note: Caddo Parish also has casino gambling.

 

4. Page 27: Since 2000, Tunica County salaries have doubled.

 

5. “The Sheriff and Parks and Recreation, and Clinics account for the largest salary expenses.”

 

6. Page 36: “As a whole the Sheriff(‘s) Department salaries exceed the state mean.”

 

7. Page 44: “At present there are 15 positions earning less than the survey salary mean.  Deficits for these positions range from 47% to 11%.  Dollar amounts vary from -$28,408 to -$2,638.  There are 43 positions earning more than the survey mean.  Excesses for these positions range from 104% to 162%.  Dollar amounts vary from $1,616 to $40,487.  The remaining positions fall with 90% to 104% of the survey salary mean.”

 

Note: We found an error in this reporting.  In the sentences “Excesses for these positions range from 104% to 162%.  Dollar amounts vary from $1,616 to $40,487.”  This last number should be $66,143.  This figure of $66,143 corresponds with 152%.  Further comment: The Health Administrator is 162% or $40,487 over the mean for this survey.  The Physician that is paid $192,022 is 152% or $66,143 over the mean for this survey.

 

On pages 69 and 70 of the Survey there is a list of the above information and the corresponding jobs.  A copy of these pages is included with this report.

8. Page 44: “In closing, given its size and in comparison to similar counties, Tunica County appears to be overstaffed.”

 We have included with this report a copy of a presentation this Committee made to you 1 Apr 2013. The salary of the Health Administrator continues to be a problem.  This survey shows that the last Health Administrator was overpaid and now according to this survey, the current Health Administrator is overpaid.  This is a problem of this Board’s own making.  We have a resident in Tunica County who is qualified for the Health Administrator’s position but somehow, he wasn’t considered.  Please think about revisiting this situation and making the corrections.

 

As this survey shows, we are not going to gain much money by cutting hourly wages.  More money is going to be gained by cutting from the top.  Department heads need to take a look at this survey and realize that many of you are being overpaid.  Nobody likes to take a cut in pay.  We are asking that Department heads work with this Board, the Comptroller and County Administrator until we are out of the present financial fix.

Attachments:

I: The survey chart of salaries pages 69 and 70 are not on the blog.  You may get a copy from your Supervisor.

II. 

1 Apr 2013: Board of Supervisors’ Meeting @ 9a

Our Committee asked for an appointment with you today in an attempt to correct your minutes in the Public Record Book #155 on page 489 and to open a conversation with the Board of Supervisors surrounding the hiring of the CEO at the Tunica County Healthcare Authority and the possibility of hiring a Human Resource Manager.

Attached to our report are the following:

1. A photocopy of the above referenced page.
2. One Freedom of Information letter dated 1 Mar 2013 and addressed to the Tunica County Healthcare Authority requesting:
1. Total number of applicants who applied for the CEO position.
2. Total number of interviews granted for this position.
3. Total number of applicants who both applied and are residents of Tunica County.
4. Total number of interviews granted for applicants who also live in Tunica County.
3. Copies of email correspondence between Dr. Osborn and myself in response to the Freedom of Information letter.

The first thing you will notice from the Public Record of your minutes is that 53 applications were received and 12 of these applicants received telephone interviews.  From the telephone interviews, three of the 12 applicants were granted face-to-face interviews.

Next, take a look at the email conversation between Dr. Osborn and myself as a result of the Freedom of Information letter our Committee sent to Tunica County Healthcare Authority.

Here is a recap of the email information:

Dr. Osborn: “In response to your request, 50 applications for the CEO position were received.  Of those 50, initial telephone interviews were conducted with 14.  In person interviews were conducted with three finalists.

There were no applications received from individuals living in Tunica County.  Therefore, no interviews were granted to individuals living in Tunica County.”

Barbara Tuchel: “Thx for your quick response.  Would you please recheck one more time about there being no application from anyone in Tunica County.  A long time Tunica County resident is saying he/she submitted an application and was not interviewed by phone or in person.”

Dr. Osborn: “Of the fifty applications submitted to me, none were residents of Tunica County.”

It is this Committee’s understanding that an application for this position was given to the County Administrator and a copy of the applicant’s resume was placed in every Supervisor’s mailbox.

What happened?

Secondly, it is our understanding that the new CEO was hired with a salary of $105K.  This amount is the approximate salary of Dr. Osborn who has been a Tunica County employee for quite some time.  When the Board of Supervisors replaced the Road Manager the difference in salaries between the former and the present was approximately $30K.  (Billy Watson was making $110K and Joe Eddie Hawkins is making $80.)  So, historically this is the pattern you have set for new hires.  Why was this position handled differently?

Using the above reporting as an example, it has become apparent that Tunica County is in need of a Human Resource Manager.  Hopefully, you will consider this position a priority and will ensure this person reports directly to the Board of Supervisors.