Did you forget something? Last Fri night at 5p was the second Board of Supervisors’ Meeting for the month of May. The next meeting is on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 at 5p. Mark your calendars. These meetings are important.
The Transparency Committee presented the results of some of the projects we have been working on. Some projects contained new discoveries and others we have had long discussions about with the Board of Supervisors and we were asking for conclusions.
The reports by the Transparency Committee were placed in alphabetical order for delivery. A copy of our reporting and documentation is always left with the Board of Supervisors. This committee does not and has not asked for an appointment without being prepared. The subjects presented were: Claims for Mar 2012; the Election Commission; R. C. Irwin Library; the Recreation Department and Tunica National.
To save time and to not “bombard” the reader with too much information, let’s just skip to Tunica National. In Jan 2012, this Committee sent a Freedom of Information letter to the County Administrator and the Board’s Attorney. In the letter we asked for the names and addresses of each and every member of Tunica National.
The first letter received no response. So, we asked again and received a letter from the Board’s Attorney stating that Tunica County did not have the requested information. In 2003, there was an act of the MS State Legislature submitted by Rep. Henderson
“TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF TUNICA COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO TUNICA COUNTY PUBLIC PROJECTS, INC., OR TUNICA COUNTY ARENA AND EXPOSITION CENTER, INC., OR BOTH, FOR THE MANAGEMENT, PROMOTION, OPERATION AND MAINTENACE OF A PUBLIC GOLF AND TENNIS COMPLEX, ARENA AND RIVER PARK; TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF TUNICA COUNTY TO LEASE SUCH PUBLIC FACILITIES TO SUCH ENTITIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.”
This Committee couldn’t figure out why this would be necessary. So, we asked. What we were told is that there are some things our County government could not do, like “run gift shops” and this legislation took care of that.
At this point, Mr. Dunn said we were “bombarding” the Board with too much information at 5p on a Fri night. Mr. Dunn, you are paid approximately $1000 for each meeting of the Board of Supervisors. If you are in a hurry, give the gavel to Mr. Nickson and be on your way. We were there on a Fri night. Why was it such a hardship on you?
Back to the story of Tunica National: By the time the Transparency Committee met the next day, we had learned that there are 2458 government owned golf courses in these United States. Can you imagine any golf course not having a pro shop?
We also found some interesting case studies looking at the pros and cons of government operating government owed golf courses. Oh, but we wouldn’t want to “bombard” the reader with too much information.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Letter sent to the Tunica County Board of Education
At the Transparency Committee Meeting on 10 Mar 2012 we discussed the handout from the Board of Education Meeting in Feb 2012.
Year Plan and Expected Graduation Rate
Year 1: 2011-2012: 52.7%
Year 2: 2012-2013: 57%
Year 3: 2013-2014: 65%
Year 4: 2014-2015: 76%
Year 5: 2015-2016: 85%
What we would like to know is the following:
1. Of the students who graduated in the 2010-2011 school year, how many entered a 2 year college and how many entered a four year college.
2. Of the students who graduated in the 2010-2011 school year, how many had to take remedial classes before starting their college curriculum.
Waiting for an answer.
Year Plan and Expected Graduation Rate
Year 1: 2011-2012: 52.7%
Year 2: 2012-2013: 57%
Year 3: 2013-2014: 65%
Year 4: 2014-2015: 76%
Year 5: 2015-2016: 85%
What we would like to know is the following:
1. Of the students who graduated in the 2010-2011 school year, how many entered a 2 year college and how many entered a four year college.
2. Of the students who graduated in the 2010-2011 school year, how many had to take remedial classes before starting their college curriculum.
Waiting for an answer.
A little bird told me....
There is a Weight Watchers program being held at the Recreation Department. So, why couldn’t I open our local newspaper and find the meeting time for myself? This committee has been posing this same question to our Board of Supervisors since 2008.
Specifically, what we’ve been requesting is that a weekly list of what activities are going on at the Recreation Department be published in the Tunica Times so that Tunicans could decide if there is something being offered that sparks their personal interest. This really wouldn’t be too hard to put together. We have a full time Public Information Officer already on staff. So, what exactly is the hold-up?
Specifically, what we’ve been requesting is that a weekly list of what activities are going on at the Recreation Department be published in the Tunica Times so that Tunicans could decide if there is something being offered that sparks their personal interest. This really wouldn’t be too hard to put together. We have a full time Public Information Officer already on staff. So, what exactly is the hold-up?
52.7%
This number represents the anticipated graduation rate in the public school district of Tunica County for the 2011-2012 school year. This letter is not about the current Superintendent of Education. This letter is about the process of how we have chosen to fill our Superintendent position.
A couple of weeks ago, Bob and I attended a special ceremony honoring Dr. Bobby Papasan. What I think I understood from the many comments was that we need to be hiring a Superintendent of Education not electing a Superintendent of Education. This is a belief long held in our household.
Why are we allowing the future of our children and the future development of our County to be decided by a popularity contest? Didn’t we learn anything from the past election and re-election of our former Superintendent of Education?
We need to change the process from electing to hiring the best qualified candidate to be our Superintendent of Education.
A couple of weeks ago, Bob and I attended a special ceremony honoring Dr. Bobby Papasan. What I think I understood from the many comments was that we need to be hiring a Superintendent of Education not electing a Superintendent of Education. This is a belief long held in our household.
Why are we allowing the future of our children and the future development of our County to be decided by a popularity contest? Didn’t we learn anything from the past election and re-election of our former Superintendent of Education?
We need to change the process from electing to hiring the best qualified candidate to be our Superintendent of Education.
I can't believe we are going to build...
Here we go again. It appears the Board of Supervisors is going to build yet another facility. So, where is the feasibility study?
Perhaps what you all need to be discussing is the repurposing of our current facilities.
Perhaps what you all need to be discussing is the repurposing of our current facilities.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Okay, so now I'm mad...really mad
Today is the MS Primary. So, my husband and I showed up to vote at our Precinct.
Someone at the table must have known my name because the check-off lady noted my name in the Republican book. Are you kidding me? Was she looking at the color of my skin and "assuming" I would be voting Republican?
We all had a good laugh when I loudly stated I was voting in the Democratic Primary but the more I've thought about it this afternoon the madder I've become.
I am just so offended that anyone would...well, number one, think I would vote for any of those Republican Clowns and number two assume I would be voting Republican because I happen to be white.
I have a brain and I use it. Arrrrrgh!!!!
Someone at the table must have known my name because the check-off lady noted my name in the Republican book. Are you kidding me? Was she looking at the color of my skin and "assuming" I would be voting Republican?
We all had a good laugh when I loudly stated I was voting in the Democratic Primary but the more I've thought about it this afternoon the madder I've become.
I am just so offended that anyone would...well, number one, think I would vote for any of those Republican Clowns and number two assume I would be voting Republican because I happen to be white.
I have a brain and I use it. Arrrrrgh!!!!
Monday, March 12, 2012
This just ain't right...
On the agenda for the Board of Supervisors’ 29 Feb 2012 meeting, item #7 asked the Board to “Consider Homeland Security Cooperative Grant in the amount of $300,000.00 for Force Protection Program.” We were told this was a 100% grant and that a separate accounting number would be given to this Grant so that the funds could be tracked. Well, hallelujah for that.
Upon examination of the claims for the month of Feb 2012 we found disbursements from this grant to be $101,499.45. So, Sheriff Hamp, how can you spend money before the Board of Supervisor has approved the funding?
Ah, so you want to know what was purchased with this huge amount of money? Well, you could go to the Public Records and look it up for yourself or you could wait for the Transparency Committee to do all the work and just tell you. I guess we’ll go with the Transparency Committee. The Sheriff spent $1399.00 on body bags (isn’t this a Coroner’s expense?) continuing: $50.00 on shipping; $90,288.20 for riot equipment; $6,819.20 for telephones and $3,002.45 for rooms and meals.
There are some who would say, so what, it’s a 100% grant and someone is going to get the money from Homeland Security so why not Tunica County? First of all, it’s still our money, meaning the funding for this grant came from the United State Government and that be us. Secondly, just because you can do something doesn’t mean it is the right thing to do.
So, here it is, the Tunica County version of a “Bridge to Nowhere.” Please write to your representatives in Congress and use this as an example of wasteful spending.
Upon examination of the claims for the month of Feb 2012 we found disbursements from this grant to be $101,499.45. So, Sheriff Hamp, how can you spend money before the Board of Supervisor has approved the funding?
Ah, so you want to know what was purchased with this huge amount of money? Well, you could go to the Public Records and look it up for yourself or you could wait for the Transparency Committee to do all the work and just tell you. I guess we’ll go with the Transparency Committee. The Sheriff spent $1399.00 on body bags (isn’t this a Coroner’s expense?) continuing: $50.00 on shipping; $90,288.20 for riot equipment; $6,819.20 for telephones and $3,002.45 for rooms and meals.
There are some who would say, so what, it’s a 100% grant and someone is going to get the money from Homeland Security so why not Tunica County? First of all, it’s still our money, meaning the funding for this grant came from the United State Government and that be us. Secondly, just because you can do something doesn’t mean it is the right thing to do.
So, here it is, the Tunica County version of a “Bridge to Nowhere.” Please write to your representatives in Congress and use this as an example of wasteful spending.
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