BentonCountyIssues.net
A good thing about the 2005-2006 budget passing is that the teachers, parents, and children will not have to worry this year about school starting on time. And we are very happy for that. Mr. Randall Robertson did a wonderful job again this year on the budget for the schools.
The Benton County Highway, Budget, and Property Committees met in July, there were no public notices published in the local paper for these meetings. (The notice on the bulletin board in the courthouse is not sufficient). The Parks and Recreation Board meets regularly and the public is not notified. Parents need to know when these meeting are held. What will it take to make the Committee chairpersons know that we are not going to go away until the law is obeyed.
Citizens have a right to know when and where county committee meetings are being held. It is our right to know per the Law of the State of Tennessee. One of the County Mayor's three secretaries could surely take on this responsibility. Other counties with fewer secretaries are doing a nice job of publishing according to the law where, when, and the subject of their meetings.
We invite all citizens to take a look at the Bulletin Board the next time you are in the courthouse. There are many things there that should not be, and things that should be are not there. There is no excuse for the condition of this board. A couple of weeks ago buried under newer meeting notices there were Budget Meeting notices for the month of May! There are three (3) secretaries in the County Mayor's office - surely one of them can organize that bulletin board better.
Speaking of County Mayor Jimmy Thornton and his three secretaries, the County Mayor of Henry County has only one assistant, and two employees in the Budget Department. (and no secretaries). Three who have to do the work of a county twice the size of Benton County. Again, one too many employees in Benton County. Figure about $20,000 salary, and $5,000 for 100% paid health insurance a year. About $100,000 could be saved in this one department in just four years. Add that to one too many at the Election Commission that we talked about last week and now we have about $200,000 saved in just four years. Figure how many years have we had this many employees in just these two offices and see how many hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent unnecessarily!
Other counties have a policy of not hiring relatives. Henry County has a hiring of relatives section in there County Handbook that is given to and signed by employees. Benton County does not have anything about nepotism (the hiring of relatives) in theirs. Think it's about time this is changed since we have mother and daughter-in-law in the three employee Election Commission Office, and father, wife, and daughter in the sheriff's department.
In the Benton County Courthouse Policy for funerals: When a death occurs to an elected or appointed official the courthouse shall close for a full day. Our opinion, the courthouse does not have to close for a full day and stop all the taxpayers' business - this is a county of about 16,500 people! People from outside the county come here to do business also and the courthouse needs to be open! That's just our opinions...What do you think?
(by Mary Benton and Vivian Mahan)
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