03-05-2007, 08:58 AM
With all the recent negative articles about the problems in our county government, I could not help but think what might be the negative impact of all theses recent stories have with respect to our economic growth. People who are not from here, or people whom may be considering locating here for business or retirement reasons must really think this place has imploded with corruption. Well, their perception might be justified: The facts are that this county government as it stands has no checks and balances to verify, or account for daily activities and expenditures. There is No system in place to track the appropriations of monies right down to the items money is spent on, nor to hold accountable the incompetent officials for their lack of ethical governing. There is no fair play in the hiring and dismissal of personnel. Unfortunately, the Sheriff and all other county government officials have the right and the discretion under state law to dismiss any of their employees from their employment for no reason, or just cause. Once again, there is no system in place for fair play. This type of unchecked governing attracts and will continue to attract public criticism in the future. The system is broken people, and simply it seems few people if any really care about fixing it at this time. Sadly, many of our people can careless about Mrs. Mary Miller's problems, or the others whom have been dismissed without reason, or just cause. I believe our current system must crash miserably before it gets any better. If a corporation were run like this county is governed, it would have gone chapter 11 already. In the meantime, as a county we are becoming a laughable community to those people not from here.