Dear Editor: I am Jefferson County. I am the City of Monticello. Fifth generation of wage earners, business owners and taxpayers. County tax, municipality tax, business tax, gas tax, that tax, this tax, and more tax. Yet, not one family member ever felt a need to attend a City of Monticello Council meeting (CMC); a Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting; or a Jefferson County School Board (JCSB), meeting. Why? Public Trust. That has changed, after a need arose.
On October 01, 2019, I attended my first CMC meeting, which led to my first BOCC meeting, after Mayor John Jones suggested I ask the BOCC to assist the city with my need. And, I attended my first JCSB meeting. Yes, three governing boards in one month. Lastly, back to the city, where I attended my first CMC “Workshop,” after being notified my need was added (agenda), or so I thought. Was I trusting? Yes. Gullible? Maybe. Naïve? Not for one second. I did discover my need pales by comparison to concerns of unwarranted conduct by our “employees (e.g. certain board members),” their “lack of funds,” their perceived “deficits then surpluses,” questionable transactions, inflated cost estimates, disparity involving contracts, all can result in another tax hike or utility rate increase. And to think, we employ three county and one city attorney; two BOCC, one JCSB and yet another for the CMC, who are in attendance. No wonder we are still considered a poverty level county. To be continued…
Citizens should attend at least one of these board meetings. A “bucket list,” must do. Witness the good, the not so good, the what, the when and the “huh” moments. The claps. The gasps. The flip and flip backs: from we are broke and we lack funds to we’re rich, we have a surplus, let’s spend. Back to “oops, broke again.” The cause - personal preferences? A connection? Resolving needs based on who’s asking? From what district or city group? Oh the opaqueness. Is it caused because of lack of knowledge or experience? Is the official depending on another for the use of their knowledge and experience? For instance, during the October 03, 2019, BOCC meeting, Chair Betsy Barfield admitted she signs checks withdrawing funds from Jefferson County depositories without knowing what the checks are for. Is she depending on another to know? Negligent conduct? And, yes Chair Barfield, city limit residents are residents of Jefferson County too. As you should know, city limit residents pay more county taxes, identified as “Jefferson Co BOCC,” and “BOCC-County SFR (reverse side of the TRIM Notice),” than they pay in municipality “City of Monticello,” taxes.
We sit and listen quietly. We are allowed, no more than three (3) minutes, to address only the chairperson with non-agenda items. “DO NOT GO OVER THE THREE (3) MINUTES.” Gavels are raised and ready. And, the three minute rule is far more important to the chair than a citizen’s request or input. You too can apply the three minute rule – only when the knocks on your door hustling votes begin.
Mayor John Jones, Chair of CMC; Betsy Barfield, Chair of Jefferson County’s BOCC; and, Shirley Washington, Chair of JCSB, have added responsibility (Robert’s Rule of Order), and subject to more scrutiny and ridicule. Not my intent to be critical or cynical. After all we have some good employees on each board. I am simply “watching the finances.” Disparity too. We will demand financial accountability and responsibility.
Oh, back to my need... To be continued…
Forthcoming column in the Monticello News titled: “Watching the Finances.”
W. Clayton Tolbert,
Another concerned county and city taxpayer!