Another Day in Paradise Lost

There was actually hope for the citizens of Sussex County Thursday night at the Board of Supervisors meeting but it did not take long for reality to take grasp and our trip into purgatory was once again well on its way.
Towards the end of this post I will give you many links to video clips which will give you a slight insight into the sadness. To get a complete and accurate accounting I incourage you to attend the meetings.
THE NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING IS MONDAY EVENING 7:00 pm, a continuation of Thursday evening after Sheriff Bell REQUIRED the meeting be recessed and if not he would be forced to arrest some if not the entire board for disordely conduct. More on the later.

As I said there was some good so I'll start with that.

County Administrator Thomes E. Harris gave the County Administrator's report which included some incouraging information. A graph was shown that indicated the various Department Heads were doing a good job holding down expenditures as compared t last year. Clearly a indication that at least they were being fiscally responsible with our money. Mr. Harris went on to give a report about the animal shelter and it seems that after several years of mis management and mis treatment of the animals the current staff is doing a good job. The adoption rates are up, animals are being placed in rescue organizations or reuinited with their owners. VERY very few animals are having to be put down. As a previous member of the Sussex County Animal Advocates it was good news and showed that a small group of concerned citizens working togther can demand change, hold the authorities accountable and make a difference.

 Valery Ricks and I made a presentation  on the great work being done in the Town of Waverly that will hopefully some day benefit not only the town but all of Sussex County. Again another example of what good can be accomplished when even a small group of folks work TOGTHER for the benefit of ALL.

WELL THAT WAS THE GOOD now with THE BAD

 Surprise surprise a 3 -3 vote to elect a vice chair. Can it be really that hard to select who would be BEST to fulfill the role of Chair should something happen to My Tyler and he was unable to attend meetings or conduct the business of this county. Lets set aside ALL other factors and focus on just that one aspect and then vote. I would demand the supervisors ALL SIX get up and say why either they are best for the position or why they are supporting someone else. Do this in a public meeting then take a vote and let everyone present decide jusy why it is you voted the way you did.

Another inevitable deadlock as it relates to paying bills. Who does this hurt??? The 6 board members who can not agree NO...THEY ARE STILL BEING PAID and in fact have been paid for NOT doing there work. A citizen demanded that those who played games and did not do the work of the county REPAY their nearly $600 a month salary, did they???? NO!!!!

Is it hurting the vendors who provided the services?? In today economy any outstanding payments due someone hurt and every penny could be put to good use but in the case of the 2 lawyers who have not been paid its not going to send them into bankruptcy? No! So who does it hurt? It hurts each and every citizen of Sussex County as OUR Name and GOOD WILL are tanking. We have 2 industrial parks, we are not fiscally or mentally able to manage 1 let alone 2 but thats another story. So who or what kind of companies do you think would want to relocate to a county that has a reputation of not being able to pay their bills.

 Lawyer Michael Drewery one of those vendors/laywers who has not been paid BUT still was providing services to the county because it saw a real need called it quits. He handed in a letter stating that he can NO LONGER provide legal services with out being paid. This now puts US not just the 6 board members it put US the citizens of the county in a serious court case with out representation. maybe the courts can appoint legal defense as they do for indigents.

AND NOW FOR THE UGLY

Not refering to the physical appearances but to the ACTIONSAs they say pictures are worth a thousand words so I let these stand for them selves and you can add your onw words or thoughts. Remember to check out some of the video clips (linked later) and you can hear for your self some of the shameful bantering that went on.

 Some citizens left in disgust while others could not believe what was going on and looked around for help.

 The man in the center of a lot of the County's discontent and strife, Mr Thompson (attorney).

And then when you think things could not get any worse ...........

Sheriff Bell takes the podium and immediately was told by Chairmen Tyler that time for citizen comments is over and he should sit down. Sheriff Bell stated that he was not standing there as a citizen to make comments BUT AS THE SHERIFF and if they did not recess the meeting immediately he would have to consider arresting them for disorderly conduct. I personally had a bad feeling that if something was not done along these lines that it soon would become physical or worse.   Is our safety in jepordy attending OUR County Board of Supervisors meeting now??? Maybe!! As I was leaving the meeting I had an opportunity to say something to my representative and in all due respect to him knowing he just came out of a volital situation he was very abrupt and almost physical with me. We MUST ASK OURSELVES why has it gotten to this and what can be done to put an end to this. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!

That's all as I am getting so frustrated all over again just by writing this post.

Please check out the video clips at

              

http://youtu.be/ToQiDT-uNuo

http://youtu.be/_E4rXcfLQgg

http://youtu.be/0eHShmrSGoE

http://youtu.be/VfChFGUeQus

http://youtu.be/X4hrIvf7wuA

http://youtu.be/Opy47N8wHyo

http://youtu.be/Yc1C-Y61UnU

http://youtu.be/U-NuBKPu0EY

http://youtu.be/Ci-g9Fn_M3A

http://youtu.be/cenKgMfl9z4

http://youtu.be/aFGXhmVKhXI

http://youtu.be/dGvIO2DsyPE

http://youtu.be/sl2wV4RnHyQ

http://youtu.be/LgDVDXNdiA8

http://youtu.be/wsXFZa2y0B0

http://youtu.be/bucm-OvrZKo

http://youtu.be/pl9TraIu_2Q

I had my own caption for this political cartoon I created but I thought it would be more fun if you created your own.

                          

GREAT things happening in the Town of Waverly

The Town of Waverly takes steps to improve the way of life for residents and visitors. If you build it they will come is a famous line from the “Field of Dreams” movie. Well The Town of Waverly has it’s own version of a Field of Dreams! What began as a donation many many years ago to the town from the late Senator Gray in the form a small parcel of land to be developed into a park has laid dormant like a sleeping giant all these years, now has been awakened with the help of a grant from the Virginia Department of Forestry and the expert assistance from the Community Design Assistance Center from Virginia Tech. http://cdac.arch.vt.edu/

A small group of very talented students have been visiting Waverly several times over the last few months looking at the land that was donated  as well as all other property owned by the town and in addition other property that might have a potential for improvement. All of this in an attempt to beautify and create an atmosphere within the town that would entice folks to visit, shop, eat and just plain ol enjoy what the town has to offer.

Below are several conceptual drawings the design team along with the Town’s Park Committee developed. These are on display in the Town Hall and you are encouraged to come down and look at them and take a moment to leave your comments as to your thoughts. If you prefer you can view the pictures here and answer the questions that follow. You can email your comments to fred.turck@dof.virginia.gov or you can hand write them and drop off at the Town Hall. We are trying to collect all comments by March 16^th at which time the design team will take them all into consideration when finalizing our options. A date soon after that will be set for a public meeting hosted by the Design Center and the Town’s Park and Recreation Committee at which time final plans will be presented.

This is just one of the initial steps necessary for the Town and Community to move forward. A lot of hard work and fund raising will be necessary to see any of the recommendations become a reality.

Welcome To Waverly! Lets show everyone how proud we are of our town with some new signage.

 How cool would it be to have a Farmer's Market and public gatering place?

 

The Park is located adjacent to the tennis courts. How great would it be to have a place to hold a family picnic, take your children to a safe place to play and a place to come and relax while enjoying a small bit of nature?

WE NEED YOUR HELP AND INPUT !!!

The Community Design Assistance Center will be taking comments for the Waverly Improvements Project until Friday, March 16^th, 2012. After viewing the display boards either on line or at the Town Hall please fill out the following comments sections with any likes/dislikes or suggestions that you feel are important to the design project. Forms will be available at the Town Hall also.

Park Designs:

Comments:

Downtown Master Plan:

Comments:

 Signage:

Comments:

 

This project is participating in an In-kind Match Program. In order for the community to receive additional funding for the project we need you to please fill in your name and approximately how long you spent reviewing the designs: (ie Jane Doe. 45 mins) Names will only be used for the In-Kind match purposes.

 

Name/Time:___________________________

You CAN MAKE a DIFFERENCE

Dear Citizen,

County government provides essential services we use every day. Citizens and their government must work together as neighbors to enhance programs and services and to preserve our history.

One of the most important components of a democratic society is public participation. The boards, commissions, committees and councils of Sussex County provide us a unique opportunity to take an active role in County government.

Some of these bodies have been established by State law; others have been created by the Board of Supervisors. Either way they cannot and should not function in a “cone of silence”. We have about 10 days till the next Board of Supervisors meeting, that’s 10 days for you to make a difference. Contact your representative tell them NO DEMAND that they put personal differences aside, put egos aside, put aside ALL that is getting in the way of them carrying out the business of the county. They should not demand apologies from each other, they should not vote in an attempt to penalize another, get over it and move forward. There is not a single board member that is perfect, or one who has never done something wrong and not in line with the status quo. Again call them, write them, email them AND follow-up with attending the meeting on Thursday March 15^th. Pay the bills, elect a vice-chair and hire an attorney BASICALLY GET TO WORK AND STOP PLAYING GAMES WITH OUR TIME AND MONEY.

I have drawn my first ploitical cartoon and if the board continues to clown around I will submit it to the paper in hopes that they will afford me yet another attempt to keep the presure on them demanding that they do what we elected them to do.

The last letter to the SSD Editor

For those who did not see the Sussex Surry Dispatch here is  my letter to the editor ...

Groundhog Day by Fred X Turck Blackwater District

There is a classic Bill Murray movie, Groundhog Day, which revolves around the repeating over and over of February 2nd. This is a very funny movie but what is happening here in Sussex County unlike the movie isNOT FUNNY one bit. Similar to the movie we seem to be reliving over and over a bad day for the county in the form of the Board of Supervisors Meetings. It is becoming very tiring and very old. This is NOT just something that has occurred with the newly elected board but has been going on for years.

Not sure what was going on prior to the start of the meeting but Chairman Tyler rearranged the seating locations of the Board Members, was it an attempt to break allegiances or was it just another show of power.  When 7:30 PM came the meeting began as always with hopes, the pledge of allegiance and a prayer, but did not take long for the hope to dwindle and the words of both the pledge and the prayer to be just that, words. It didn’t take long for the €œBull Supervisor Fly and the Bully Supervisor Tyler to revive their deep disrespect for each other and those they were elected to serve. He said - she said, whose going to Meetings. Gentlemen, ALL 6 of you, PLEASE stop this, set your personal differences and agendas aside and get back to what it is you were elected to do.

There was a bright spot last night, not since the hunters rallied in support of an issue very important to them has the meeting room been so full. During the citizens comments portion of the meeting about a dozen or so folks got up and voiced concern for several issues. There was a well-organized and orchestrated outpouring of support for Attorney Henry Thompson, many called for the county to “do what is right and pay outstanding bills, some called for the county to act NOW and replace the outdated and unreliable communications system and others asked for county support of youth activities.  You could tell that this, just like with the outpouring of hunters, rattled the Board, to the point where funding for a youth recreation league was placed back into the budget just in time for spring activities.

HOWEVER this huge outcry for doing what is right from the citizens also lead to an unprecedented, out of place and very unprofessional rant from the chairman. While we all can support some aspects of what he has to say, just like we can find some points to agree with made by other Board Members we MUST DEMAND that our Groundhog Day come to an END! If you can’t attend the meetings, I am glad you are keeping up with it through the Sussex Surry Dispatch, and  please contact your representative(contact info follows) let them know it’s time to get to the business of supporting you, your family and your county and check out my blog at

www.sussexcountyva.blogspot.com

Board of Supervisors

Courthouse District

 Eric Fly   Cell: (757) 647-8190   Email: cefly@seamcorp.net

 Stony Creek District

 Charlie E. Caple, Jr   Home: (434) 246-2602    Cell: (804) 586-3645

 Waverly District

 Alfred G. Futrell   Cell: (804) 385-6406   Email: rottrucks@aol.com

 Blackwater District

 Raymond L.Warren   Home: (804) 834-2920   Email: rwarren46@aol.com

 Henry District

 Rufus E. Tyler Sr  Home: (434) 246-4246   Email: rtyler@impassoc.org

 Wakefield District

 John A. Stringfield,   Home: (757) 899-3088   Email: jastringfield333@yahoo.com

Groundhog Day

The new "line-up" or I should say seating arrangments. just like an elementary school teacher Chairman Tyler gave the "students"  new seating locations. A fresh look but the results were the same and predictible.

The "Bull"

 The "Bully"

At times I think the County Administrator should be issued a striped shirt, yellow flag and a whistle.

Surprise, surprise a 3 - 3 vote in yet another attempt for electing a vice-chair. I would suggest each of the nominees stand infront of the board and the citizens and make a statement as to why they would want the job and what they could bring to the vice-chair position. then ask the board to vote in full view of the public so we can know what/who/why they are voting the way they are voting. If this cant be resolved....hey here is a thought....maybe Mr Futrell would be willing to step up and take on the responsibility so the board can put at least one of the issues in front of them to rest.

Your out of order Mr Chairman.

Just pay the bill !!!

More of my thoughts will be posted soon, please check back.

Thursday Night Board of Supervisors Meeting

Tomorrow Night 7:30  PM BE THERE !!
http://www.sussexcountyva.gov/events/index/view/id/23/

We NEED to take every opportunity we have to stay informed as to what our "leaders" ?? are doing for US and for OUR COUNTY. For  too long now they have been operating under a semi cone of silence, behind closed doors and outside of sound and sight of "we the citizens of Sussex County".
PLEASE attend the meeting it is only then that in numbers we can begin to make a difference.
SEE YOU THURSDAY NIGHT.

The morning after!

About 25 citizens attend the first BOS meeting of 2012.

What started off on a fairly good note at least for Sussex County ended with the same dissention, dysfunction and disappointment that has become expected from our leadership.

Board members get into a heated battle as the County Administrator looks for guidance from higher sources because it seems like it’s not being provided from those we elected to do just that.

HBO could sign Tyler and Fly to a pay per view debate and it just might be more profitable than the Cassius Clay – Sonny Liston fight. But it would also probably leave more questions unanswered than those after the classic fight.

1) Tyler makes light of economic impact and frustrations of the NON-meetings.

During citizen comments a resident of the county (Blackwater District) got up and suggested that both Tyler and Capel refund the county their $600+ stipend they get per month due to the fact that they were both playing games and not attending in what looked like a blatant attempt to not allow a quorum so that county business could NOT be carried out. It was also suggested that the county refund the citizen approximately $50 to cover the cost of gas and vehicle expense for showing up 3 times for the non-meetings. Tyler joked and said the check is in the mail. Well Mr. Tyler I hope an invoice is presented to the board so you can honor those words “the check is in the mail”. And by the way, since Mr. Tyler stated that Mr. Fly should personally pay over $12,000 in legal fees because Fly did not get a consensus of the Board prior to approving the expenditures (which Fly did call all Board members to get the consensus. Shouldn’t Tyler pay the $50 in travel fees for the county resident, since he said the check would be in the mail without any consensus and ratification from the board? I won’t hold my breath nor should the citizen making the comments because we all know you are NOT a man of honor and will not honor this request either.

2) County Administrator calls for Code of Ethics/Standards of Conduct commitment.

County Administrator Tom Harris is attempting to get the board and all county employees to be a bit (no a LOT MORE) professional and civil in how they interact with the citizens of the county and themselves. Almost 2 years ago, I suggested to the board of supervisors that they needed a code of conduct and an ethics guide because at that time it was evident that the past board did not like each other and could not carry out a meeting without some sad and embarrassing moments. They said that they had done this but in reality only gave it lip service and whatever they had were just words on paper without any commitment to honor by all the board. Let’s hope that Mr. Harris has better luck with this most current attempt and is more successful for the betterment of the county and those of us living here.

3) New Board Members sit in silence as senior members exchange verbal blows.

It must have been a real eye/ear opener for the new board members who for the most part sat back in silence as Tyler and Fly traded verbal blows in a real embarrassing he-said she-said bout. Not knowing all the fine details of what went on it sure looked as if both had an equal contribution to this pathetic display of our elected officials working out a disagreement/misunderstanding. Of all the things they talk about in closed session (which should be called into question) this sure seemed like it could have been resolved in a manner that would not made the Board and the entire County look and feel like they are part of the 6-ring circus.

4) County in the red, can’t seem to manage its nickels, how can it be expected to manage millions, is a tax increase in the works?

During the meeting it was stated that between the school board and the county that the county would be almost 2 MILLION DOLLARS in the red if certain tax credits were not renewed. County administrator did propose that as an incentive for departments being fiscally responsible and saving money that any “saved money” be carried over into next year’s budget as an increase to the normal allocations. While this all sounds good and I hope the board takes the request seriously, I too hope that they put into place some REAL measures to hold the departments and department heads accountable for going OVER BUDGET.

Also as seen in the local paper and further touted at the meeting, the county is the recipient of several grants, upwards of 4.5 million dollars’ worth. While this on the surface seems like a great thing one does not have to go back so many months to see how the county allowed previous grants to wither away with OUT benefiting the county for what they were intended for.  HOW can we expect our current board to manage this kind of money when they can’t seem to watch the nickels and dimes in a responsible manner? In the agenda for the meeting it was noted that the board/county has a “policy” in place that allows a county employee a $50 stipend if they elect to use their own cell phone vs using a county provided phone. This seems a bit; no a lot excessive; I know several state agencies that do not allow this for a variety of reasons. To me $50 is more like a entire compensation as that should almost pay all or most of a standard package available from several providers. This is on top of the $600+ stipend, and health care and expense account.  What about approval of expending over $250,000 for architect fees for the new office for the Commonwealth Attorney. Just these fees alone should build a nice (maybe the nicest in the county) office building.

5) Tyler calls into question the Sussex Surry Dispatch ability to print the truth and calls for a County Newsletter.

The frost on the cake came late in the meeting when Mr. Tyler suggested that the county begin publishing their own newsletter since they cannot trust the Sussex Surry Dispatch to print the truth. Well Mr Tyler is sure making a major assumption that the county themselves is capable of publishing the truth. They have such a good track record of altering minutes (or allowing the minutes to be altered) of public meetings to suite their own agenda, why would we NOT trust them to publish the truth in their own newsletter.

If people really want to know the truth about what is going on in the county THEY MUST BEGIN TO GET INVOLVED. About 25 citizens showed up at the meeting. This is many more than normal, except for those few instances where folks felt the need to ban together and show up in force to let the county know their displeasure with an issue. In those few instances I believe the Board of Supervisors were taken by surprise and felt the pressure of the “power of the people”. Another way citizens can find out the truth if they cannot attend the meetings is to READ THE SUSSEX SURRY DISPATCH.