I used to see headlines and stories every few weeks about the ongoing investigation into our Clerk of the Court and the possible mishandling of taxpayers’ funds.
Why has it stopped all of a sudden?
It seems that just after new commissioners were installed, a few months ago, everything halted.
I know it used to be said that Betsy Barfield was on a “witch hunt” after Kirk Reams and the Clerk’s budget; but I don’t think that is true. I think Betsy Barfield saw wrongdoing and was trying her best to figure out why our county taxpayers’ money was being mishandled: checks written for personal expenses, P-cards being used by non-authorized personnel and for personal expenses, and other shenanigans going on behind closed checkbooks.
So many “wrongdoings” were found that even the FDLE was involved and a private outside auditing firm was called in.
According to the newspaper stories I read, ALL the county commissioners were in agreeance that many things were being handled wrongly and that misappropriate handling of county funds was being overlooked.
Why is it that now, in the last few months, it seems that NONE of the county commissioners seem concerned at all anymore?
Was Betsy Barfield the only one that really cared about our county’s money and financial happenings? And is it now that she is gone the commissioners are no longer keeping track of our money and how it is spent?
Well, WE, the Jefferson County Taxpayers, DESERVE to know!!
And YOU, our county commissioners, SHOULD be the ones keeping track of it and TELLING us!!
Sincerely,
Charles Taylor