Protesters call for tighter budget

Don Biles and others hold signs on both sides of Highway 19 during a protest prior to Tuesday's board of commissioners meeting.

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Rachel McDaniel

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Tuesday, February 23. 2010

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Around 50 protesters stood around the courthouse square Tuesday night before the Pike County commission meeting, holding signs with messages like "Listen to us or leave", "Wanted: Responsible Government", and "Use Taxes Wisely."

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#1 JC on 02/23/10 at 08:18 PM

It was Great to see the Huge turnout for both the Protest and the BOC meeting itself also the nearly 40 firefighters who showed up in Support of Chief Henderson.......

#2 voted for Willis on 02/23/10 at 08:20 PM

not anymore votes for Willis. John Morrison has proven himself to be #1 for Pike and #1 for district 1. votes for JC.

#3 citizen of pike on 02/24/10 at 08:02 AM

Willis has done a great job. He does not side with any group, his only concern is whats best for our county. Keep up the good work in district 1.

#4 citizen on 02/24/10 at 11:09 AM

The REAL question is, DID THE COMMISSIONERS GET THE MESSAGE?

#5 David Rawlins on 02/24/10 at 11:35 AM

NO!!!

Don Collins is already working up an article for the paper explaining why the people don't understand what they were protesting about.

#6 Annie Mae Gwyn on 02/24/10 at 02:36 PM

David, How would he know anyway, he never bothered to ask us our thoughts, suggestions, ideas or anything. He walked right past us and never uttered a word! I do have to give Parish credit for coming out and staying with us the entire time until the BOC meeting started and asking us for some suggestions and to hear our concerns. Not sure what he will do with that info, but at least he listened.

#7 Anonymous on 02/24/10 at 04:24 PM

Hmm, these current board members are not scared to be voted out at next election? Seems not, since they are not representing THE PEOPLE. Idiots.

#8 windpower on 02/24/10 at 06:52 PM

i for one am glad to see all the people come out in the cold, says they better pay attention,they were put there buy us and can also be removed by us, they need to learn that just because they have money doesn't mean they need to spend it , it seems to me that they say hey we got millions of dollars what can we buy or spend it on next, they need to start giving back , i've had to make sacrifices they can too..

#9 Ease up David on 02/24/10 at 07:04 PM

You have to remember Don Collins is only a junior commissioner. He is like Obama, only 1 year in office. He is like Obama, henpecked by a high maintanance wife. He is like Obama, a one termer with a shameful record. Gotta pity the man, both of them.

#10 David Rawlins on 02/25/10 at 08:35 AM

Did you read the article yesterday in the paper? Don is out of touch with reality.

#11 David Rawlins on 02/26/10 at 09:05 AM

I overheard one of the commissioners ask "What are we supposed to do?" after the discussion on the SPOLST.

Here is my suggestion:

Every single commissioner needs to resign and allow the people of PC to elect new representation. This is the only way that PC can restore the trust that these guys have squandered.

#12 business person on 02/26/10 at 03:56 PM

what exactly are spier and burnsed's credentuals for being appointed budget consultants. I know for a fact that one of the two gentlemen cannot budget there personal finances much less the counties.commissioners did not do there homework before appointing.or maybe they did.

#13 JCB on 02/26/10 at 06:29 PM

What I don't understand is why the county would want to hire someone back that was fired from the county just a few years ago. Am I the only one that remembers that?? Also, what experience does Merritt Spier have in doing a government budget? If either of these men want to work for the county, I suggest that they apply for a job just like you or I would have to, rather than working their way into employment via the back door (their friends).

#14 business woman on 02/27/10 at 11:12 AM

So JCB and business person, do you prefer to pay $50 an hour to have the ex-county manager from Spalding County come down here and do our budget?

#15 JCB on 02/27/10 at 12:46 PM

If paying an ex-county manager $50.00 an hour will get the budget completed correctly rather than having those two clowns attempt to do the budget, then yes, it would be money well spent. I haven't seen anyone answer my questions. Let me repeat them for those who missed them the first time. Why would the county hire someone that they fired once before? What experience does Merritt Spier have doing a budget, much less a GOVERNMENT budget? These are not difficult questions. How much are Spier and Burnsed going to be paid?? Spier may or may not be free but I guarantee the Burnsed will not do anything for free. Sit back and watch the show...

#16 BCJ on 02/27/10 at 03:27 PM

I remember why Tommy was let go....someone needs to go back and pull the minutes....

#17 You are a nut! on 02/27/10 at 04:41 PM

Name 4 firefighters who support Henderson. JC you are no firefighter just because your Dad was.

#18 Margie Trammell on 02/27/10 at 08:20 PM

Merritt may not have ever done a government budget but he is a numbers guy with a strong financial background. Tommy has done a balanced budget in this county and in spite of his other mistakes he left this county in good financial condition.

The Pike County Board of Commissioners needs to be thankful we have people who are willing to help with this task. If what I am told is correct we are looking at well being millions of dollars short on our current budget and we need some good, solid help.

We most certainly do not need an outside consultant coming in here, especially one that Don Collins and Doug Mangham, who according to Spalding County sources, have been courting outside the parameters of sound ethical behavior for the past several weeks - even before they decided they could not work with Steve Marro.

#19 What's New on 02/28/10 at 11:58 AM

YES, HE WAS FIRED JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER COUNTY MANAGERS. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS HE LEFT THE COUNTY COMPLETELY DEBIT FREE WITH A BALANCED BUDGET THAT WAS NOT OVER SPENT. ARE YOU A COUNTY EMPLOYEE THAT IS WORRIED THAT YOU WILL BE THE NEXT ONE FIRED OR A PUPPET OF A CERTAIN BIG SPENDING COMMISSIONER?

PIKE COUNTY IS THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THIS STATE BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL FIRING IN THIS COUNTY BY COMMISSIONERS WITH VENDETTAS THAT YOU SELECT BY BALLOT.
NO ONE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF BEING FIRED IN PIKE COUNTY BY THE BOC.

#20 More Information on 02/28/10 at 01:32 PM

I beleive Don Collins has another part time job ar H & R Block doing taxes for people.
I would not let him do my taxes.

#21 wrm on 02/28/10 at 03:35 PM

Why don't you apply for the job?

#22 business woman on 02/28/10 at 10:47 PM

Since Don Collins and Doug Mangham are so darn smart let them do the budget. They certainly spend enough time at the commission office to get it done. Let them go ahead and budget in all the little perks they want.

#23 Cut the fat on 03/01/10 at 06:23 AM

Roosevelkt Willis did it best when he cut funding for code enforcement. The position serves no purpose except for the code enforcement officer. All she does is answer the phone with a smart a$$ attitude.

#24 Wondering on 03/01/10 at 11:38 AM

Talking about budget, why can't the building inspector do the code enforcement? With building down so much that the building and zoning department is the one where the budget can be cut. the inspector can and should know the codes. Also why would they need to hire another receptionist? They already have enough people in the office to cover it. Just wondering.

#25 Rudy V. on 03/01/10 at 02:48 PM

The building inspector is certified for international codes. He is also POST certified in law enforcement. He knows how to read and apply Georgia Codes. Our county does not need to be paying someone to sit and answer the phone, her private cell phone mostly. The original code enforcement position was paid for by the state of Georgia on the scrap tire program which included the code enforcement truck. Yeah, that is the truck which has not moved within the last 90 days parked behind the BOC office. Yeah, she got a new truck to sport around in. This code enforcement officer is the same one that dispatched a new county employee to pick her children up at school in a county vehicle on county time. Yeah, she has gotten two salary increases since then.

Where is Roosevelt when we need him?

#26 thinker on 03/01/10 at 08:03 PM

unfortunatly i have not got to look at the countys budget but i am sure that fuel is a big big part of it, i think we could start with the patrol cars,they dont need to sit on the side of the road idleing waiting on a call or a speeder ,and i know nobody wants to hear this but everybody needs a pay cut ,if they don't like it they can walk, theres to many unemployed people willing to take thier jobs, the county needs to be run like a company not like a government entity,like we can print money when we want , theres always room to trim the fat , somebody needs to get out a calculator and use it ,if the money is not there then say i'm sorry you can't have it ,instead of this tax and spend mentality,stop wasting my hard earned money ,lets get back to the basics , ease up on locking everybody up (housing)for trivial **** ,like child support , or out of state warrants,and the likes, that cost us to much a day cite them and let them go if they don't show up for court their bound to get caught some where else just a thought....

#27 WHAT???? on 03/01/10 at 08:46 PM

WHAT???? Maybe they should just not lock up anyone....or better yet not have any law enforcement, courts, or anything not even the commissioners just let everybody do what ever they like so no one would have to spend any money or pay any taxes.....RIGHT how long do you think that would last...the county can not run like a company IT IS A GOVERNMENT...

#28 rar on 03/02/10 at 08:12 AM

Who is the code enforcement officer?

#29 David Rawlins on 03/02/10 at 09:57 AM

Actually, I don't disagree completely with thinker's ideas.

There are state mandates that require us to provide health care including dental for prisoners. Isn't that rediculous? We have to fix their teeth if they are arrested.

Also, all the new cars that were purchased, not a single one was a hybrid (able to stop and go instantly without using fuel while stopped)

Finally, why do pike county deputies who live outside the county get to take patrol cars home? I've seen more PCSD cars in clayton than in pike.

#30 Mrs. Anon on 03/02/10 at 07:36 PM

Unless they have changed it is Winer Daniel Sandleson. Think the Winer might be a nickname.
Commissioner Willis would know the facts.

#31 thinker on 03/02/10 at 08:03 PM

thanks for your support David ,
i knew this would be taken out of context , i just ment minor offenders ,misdermeanors ,we do not need to be the child support recoverys muscle, i for one paid mine and she is grown now but during these hard times how do they expect someone to make money when there in jail,it just compounds the problem and it is all up to the sheriff,not that jimmy is a bad one he's done great but it is his call he has more power than the president of the united states, look it up,and he can say no to anything or anybody he wants ,how much does it cost to house a inmate a day 30.00 40.00 a day thats very costly when someone has to do 60 days for child support , we might as well pay the back child support it would be cheaper, let alone if theres medical and most of them are on some kind of prescription, just thinking

#32 county cars on 03/02/10 at 10:09 PM

or drive it to his other job at a certain Spalding County Fire Department!

#33 Vacant position on 03/03/10 at 06:38 AM

Pike County does not have a code enforcement officer. We pay someone to fill the position but she is not a code enforcement officer. Her background; Apple picker from Wisconsin, B-B-Q waitress in Milner and night stock clerk for Lowe's.

#34 David Rawlins on 03/03/10 at 07:37 AM

I personally don't feel that the government should even be remotely involved in child support enforcement.

#35 Ga. DOL Griffin on 03/03/10 at 08:20 AM

One good thing in the code enforcer officers favor is she knows her way around the Georgia Department of Labor's Office very well. She has given statements there several times to deny others of unemployment benefits. It is possible she will face the same.

#36 Anonymous on 03/03/10 at 12:35 PM

Interesting..I think men (and women) should be held accountable for raising and supporting their children. I believe it is cheaper to fund child support enforcement (which includes access to health insurance) than it is to provide single working parents with food stamps and medicaid.
It is sad that the government has to enforce moral obligations but sadly, this is the world in which we live. Children did not ask to be born into crappy situations and they have no means to get themselves out of one.

#37 David Rawlins on 03/04/10 at 06:30 AM

I personally think men and women should be held accountable also. But it is society that has made it ok to:

1 - Get knocked up.
2 - Get married way to young and inmature
3 - Easily walk away from your family

It seems that every time someone makes a poor choice instead of the people, media, etc. condeming them, we spend all our time talking about how they had no choice. How they are "nice" people. All you have to do is take a look at some of the posts about the convicted murderers, confessed murderers and drug manufacturers on this BLOG to see exactly what I mean.

Marriage is not easy and should not be attempted by the faint of heart. If you have children, you should support them.

The government is not the answer. CSE wastes approximately 20% of child support payments.

The state "government" is the one that has dictated that the local governments provide prisoners with free health/dental care.

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