11 Sep 2014 Board of Supervisors' Meeting @ 5p

There will be another Board of Supervisors' Meeting this Thu, 11 Sep 2014 at 5 p.m.

Going out on a limb...

I'm going out on a limb here because of something I heard. It is important for employees of the Tunica County Sheriff to understand that the Sheriff makes the decision to employ you or not to employ you. Don't for one minute think that by securing a statement from the County Administrator about there being no job lay-offs or reductions in salaries you have secured your job. I believe it to be true that what the County Administrator was telling you was that budget wise, there would be no reduction in staffing or salaries. Now, what the Sheriff decides to do about not being given his $250,000 for more cars is up to him. If you saw the news on Channel 3 after the Public Hearing then you saw the Chief Deputy stating that the Sheriff's Department was 13 employees down. People we can't manufacture money. We have been living way above our means in this county for a very long time. If you don't like the way our Sheriff runs his department, then there is something you can do about it. You can vote him out of office.

More cars for the Sheriff?

During the past couple of weeks we learned that the Sheriff's budget was being reduced by $250,000 not the $1M that was being claimed.  This $250,000 was requested by the Sheriff for new cars.

Hmm, been looking over the claims for Aug 2014 and what did I find?  A claim from the Sheriff's department for $155,078.00 for some Dodge Chargers.  At the moment, I don't know how many Dodge Chargers can be purchased for $155,078.00 but I will find out. (I found out. The $155K purchased 7 cars.)

Sheriff Hamp, will you please explain why you need so many new cars this next budget year?  You need to tighten your belt just like the rest of us.

More info from the Stennis Report

As has been previously reported by the Transparency Committee, we spent a good bit of time analyzing this study.  Our full report can be found at our blog under 3 Feb 2014.

Stennis compared Tunica County, MS with Credo Parrish, LA.  Both locations have gambling.  Tunica County has 11,000 residents.  Credo Parrish has 258,000 residents.  At the time of the report, Credo Parrish had 30 more employees then Tunica County.  Per capita, Tunica County has 23 times more employees then Credo Parrish!!! 

Think about what financial genius it took to overcome threse facts and not cut jobs.  Many thanks to all involved in this feat.  A special thank you to our County Administrator, Michael Thompson.

Barbara Tuchel

Tunicans for Transparency in Government

www.transparencyintunica.blogspot.com

28 Aug 2014 Public Hearing on the 2015 Tunica County Budget

28 Aug 2014: Board of Supervisors’ Public Hearing Meeting @ 5p

The situation we find ourselves in tonight is serious.  We can compare ourselves to admiring a dollar item in a candy store and only having a quarter in our pocket.

Let’s look at it another way.  During the Bush Administration 2 wars were fought by our brave military for something we didn’t need and the financial costs of those 2 wars were not added to our national debt.  That was until President Obama came into office.  Now the costs of these wars and other expenses are staring us in the face.

That’s where we are in Tunica County.  Past Supervisors have run-up enormous debt and our current Board is having to deal with it.

Here are a few suggestions:

1. One of the constant costs to Tunica County is the cost of lawsuits.  I didn’t see this reflected in the Power Point presentation we saw on Monday night.  It is my understanding that many of these lawsuits come from the Sheriff’s Department and account for an annual expense of around $350,000.

Is this correct?  There was no answer.

Are most of these suits filed by current and former employees of the Sheriff’s Department?  There was no answer.

*at this point, there was an outburst by the Sheriff

Here is my suggestion:  We now have an HR Manager, Mr. Oliver.  This new position should help to cut down on future lawsuits but what about current suits?  Can these costs and settlements be taken out of departmental budgets?

2. Since 2008, the Transparency Committee has been asking this Board and the previous Board about transferring the Tunica National groundskeeper’s salary to Kemper Sports.  All I keep hearing is “we’re working on it.”  Stop talking and do it.  In the last 6 years, we have spent around $600,000 on this position.  Vote to do this today…please.  Either Kemper Sports accepts this decision or they can hire someone else at their expense.

3. After school programs, mentoring and the Summer Jobs Program:  It is my understanding that the Tunica County School District has between 9 and 10 million dollars in reserve.  Perhaps the School Board would vote to take over these programs not just because they have the money but because these programs fall into their sphere of expertise. 

4. The Stennis Report: Our Committee spent a good deal of time analyzing this study.  Our full report can be found at our blog under 3 Feb 2014.  One of the items the report pointed out is that our salary structure can be divided into thirds.  One third is over paid; one third is underpaid and one third is just right.  In considering our 2015 budget, this needs to be addressed.  However, this is not the big take away in the Stennis findings.

Stennis compared Tunica County, MS to Credo Parrish, LA.  Both locations have gambling.  Tunica County has 11,000 residents.  Credo Parrish has 258,000 residents.  And here’s the rub:  Credo Parrish has 30 more employees then Tunica County.  Tunica County has 23 times per capita more employees then Credo Parrish.  Again, sadly it has been proven that we have been happily living way beyond our means.

End of Presentation at the Public Hearing

5. Back to the Sheriff’s Department:  For those of you who don’t know, the salaries of MS Sheriffs are set by the MS Legislature.  This year under House Bill HR1409 our Sheriff received a raise of $10,000 plus rebates on taxes which brings Sheriff Hamp’s salary to $80,000 a year starting on 1 Jul 2014. 

 Are all of these numbers correct?

What was very interesting about this legislation is that all other counties had a reason such as an increase in responsibilities next to the amount of the increase.  There was no reason given for the Tunica County Sheriff and Tunica County was the only County without a given rationale.

In conclusion please consider:

1. Charging the costs of lawsuits and settlements to the department involved.
2. Move the groundskeeper’s salary to Kemper Sports.
3. Ask the School Board to consider funding after school programs, mentoring and Summer Jobs Programs.
4. Lower the Sheriff’s budget by $10,000 to accommodate for the legislative raise.

More will be listed as we go along on our blog.  

BTW, I thought you would like to know that our blog has almost 16,000 hits and only a handful of comments.  This should tell this Board something about the level of fear in this County.

Read my lips...no new taxes

Recently, I found an opinion article by John Archibald for the Alabama Media Group.  This article included links to research that would suggest that not only does Alabama have it backwards, so does Mississippi.

First, let me provide you with the links to John’s article and to the research.  The article: www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/08/heres_why_alabama_has_it_backw.html#incart_most-read  The research: www.parcalabema.org/the-the-potential-economic-impact-of-raising-the-high-school-graduation-rate/

Now that you have read John’s opinion from the research, do you agree that Tunica County has it backward too?  Just how much has our economic development on Hwy 304 cost us and how much has it contributed to our bottom line?  And what exactly is the problem with our schools?  The Tunica County School District has millions in the bank and yet we are always just one step away from failure.

This Thursday evening is a Public Hearing on the 2014-2015 Tunica County Budget.  The County is suggesting an 8% raise in taxes.  I’m suggesting this request is too soon because the powers that be have not completed the revamping of our government.  The tax payers need to be a last resort when you have done all that you can do to reduce expenses.

And there are other issues.  At the last BOS's meeting, Webster Franklin presented what has happened to the gambling money that used to pour into Tunica County.  The suggestion was made that we need to invest in other destination activities.  Really?  Where were you when the last Board of Supervisors were building yet another golf course?  We already had 2.  Why would we go into competition with the casinos?  I will always believe this golf course was built to enhance the small subdivision that is next to it.  Read the sign...it says "Golf Course Living".  Webster, where is the feasibility study showing we would profit from yet another golf course?

And what about the Tennis Complex?  The casinos don't have one of those.  Maybe we would have benefitted and the casinos would have benefitted by investing in this part of Tunica National only.  Again, where is the feasibility study?

We've lost some really nice amendities...the MidSouth Fair...I remember being told by a former Beat 3 Supervisor that we didn't need a contract.  Really?  How's that working for us now?

Then there was NASCAR.  The public never heard what happened to that.

What about that complex that would have included indoor skiing?

Wonder what the status is on the Country Music Jam Festival?  Are they coming back to us or are they too staying in Desoto County?

Then there is RiverPark.  What are we going to do with this drain on our finances?

Everytime I see Economic Development at a BOS's meeting I cringe.  Know what I would like to see before the BOS votes on yet another tax increase?  I would like to see a written and published report from Economic Development showing how much money Tunicans have spent on the Hwy 304 projects vs how much money these projects have put into our coffers.  

Tunica Times Story: Administrator found guilty on DWLS charge...

The following story appeared above the fold on the front page of the Friday, 25 July 2014 issue of the Tunica Times.  The byline is Monica Coleman.

I am entering the entire article in this blog so that I can make more then a few comments about this report.  In no way is this a criticism of Ms Coleman's reporting.  I'm using her article to correct...well, to say a few words about our infamous Sheriff: K. C. Hamp.  My comments are hilighted in yellow.

Begin article

Special judge Joe Brown of Quitman County found Tunica County Administrator Michael L. Thompson guilty of driving with a suspended license Friday in Tunica County Justice Court.  Thompson's attorney, Scott Colom of Columbus, said he has already filed a notice of appeal.  Good, I'm happy this verdict is going to be appealed.

Tunica County Justice Court Clerk Jennifer Williams said Monday that any appeal would go to Circuit Court and that she was not aware if an appeal had been filed.

"After Mr. Thompson is found not guilty, I will take it to federal court," Colom added.  Fantastic!

Colum said Thompson received a speeding ticket in Montgomery County more than a year ago and forgot to pay the ticket but was never issued an arrest warrant.  Thompson did not know he was driving with a suspended license, Colom said.

"He got a ticket.  He forgot about it," Colom said.  "It happens all the time."  And this warrants the treatment Mr. Thompson received while in the custody of the Tunica County Sheriff?  Remember ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Thompson was in one of Hamp's orange jumpsuits within an hour of his arrest and his picture was on the internet.    Don't even try to say this isn't personal.  Oh, and Hamp, what about the bond?  Think we forgot about that? So, tell us in your own words, Sheriff Hamp, what happened during the night while Mr. Thompson was in your custody?  Mr. Thompson's blood pressure went up and he was transported to the hospital in cuffs and shackles in the back of one of your automobiles.  What the heck is wrong with you Hamp?  You know full well that this County pays $60,000.00 per month for ambulance service and you aren't smart enough to pick up the phone and call for help?  Hamp we don't need a Sheriff who can't think on his feet and we are sick of your stupid games.  We have problems in this county, big problems.  Why don't you put your effort toward solving more crimes?

Colom said he's concerned, however, about the circumstances surrounding the arrest.

"The police admitted on the stand that he knew Mr. Thompson's license was suspended before asking him to take the wheel after the stop," Colom said.  "That's classic entrapment."  Mr. Thompson was set-up.  It has been previously reported that the duputy asked Mr. Thompson to drive because Mr. Wiley appeared sleepy.  Yes, this is entrapment.

Thompson was arrested February 12 by local sheriff's deputies and held in county jail for several hours on an alleged outstanding warrant from another county.  The court transcript and police report were not available or able to be obtained at the time of this report.  There was not any warrant.  "Alleged outstanding warrant" my eye.  Hamp you know this not to be true.

That alleged outstanding warrant never existed, according to Colom.  Colom contends the arrest was Tunica County Sheriff K. C. Hamp's attempt to bring shame upon Thompson.  That is exactly right.  Hamp was playing another one of his games.

Hamp said this week that he has no personal grievance with Thompson.  He said Colom's claims about him are flawed.  Hamp, if you believe this to be true, you are either stating something you know not to be true or you are delusional.  I'm going to repeat a previous comment so maybe you will start to get the point.

And this warrants the treatment Mr. Thompson received while in the custody of the Tunica County Sheriff?  Remember ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Thompson was in one of Hamp's orange jumpsuits within an hour of his arrest and his picture was on the internet.  And Sheriff Hamp, what happened during the night while Mr. Thompson was in your custody?  Mr. Thompson's blood pressure went up and he was transported to the hospital in cuffs and shackles in the back of one of your automobiles.  What the heck is wrong with you Hamp?  You know full well that this County pays $60,000.00 per month for ambulance service and you aren't smart enough to pick up the phone and call for help?  

If this is the treatment everyone receives in your custody, you need to resign.  Would you care to tell the good citizens of Tunica County how many lawsuits have been lodge against the Tunica County Sheriff's Department?

"You can't set up a person that already has a suspended license and a potential warrant," he said.  "A copy of the warrant was on file with the Justice Court.  It was void after [County Board attorney Ellis] Pittman got involved."  A "potential warrant"?  What the heck is that?  Then the Sheriff  goes on to say: "A copy of the warrant was on file with the Justice Court."  Seems to me Judge Louise Linzy wrote a letter to the Tunica Times saying that was not true.  Louise, if I'm mistaken here, please say so.  

"The judge made his findings.  He found him guilty after the officer gave testimony," Hamp added.  From what is reported in this article..."the police admitted on the stand that he knew Mr. Thompson's license was suspended before asking him to take the wheel after the stop."  That's entrapment Hamp, plain and simple. 

Tunica County supervisor Henry Nickson, Jr. said he didn't attend the trial but was aware of the verdict.  He said the board does not plan to take any action at this time, since an appeal was filed.  What?  A person gets a traffic ticket and is harrassed by the Sheriff's Department and there is even a hint that something other then an apology will be forthcoming?

"We're letting it work out.  He is consulting with his attorney to go through with the matter.  We're just waiting to hear from his side and what the Sheriff's Department is going to do," Nickson said.  Don't you think the Sheriff's Department has done enough?  How about this: Call the Attorney General's department of integrity and make a complaint.  How about that?

Tunica County Board of Supervisors President James Dunn said he was not aware that a trial for Thompson had taken place on Friday and that he had no comment.  Yeah, me neither.