A Springer Moment

For those that have not yet heard, Jefferson County has digressed to a Jerry Springer state and it is not pretty. In fact, it is ugly and embarrassing. The behavior of the County Commission hit an all time low last week and, lucky for us, it was all captured for posterity on video so that it can be viewed and mocked and rewound and mocked for hours of mirth and ridicule. Of course, we elected them…and we should blush. The Courtroom was filled with people interested in the status of the proposed Megasite and, in reality, most were there in opposition. The Chairman of the Commission had already cautioned all residents in attendance that no outbursts would be tolerated. One citizen had been ousted in a previous meeting for vocally expressing himself and last week’s meeting had come to a brief halt when some in the audience laughed at a small joke made by one of the Commissioners. The agenda did not list the Megasite as an item for discussion or action, though it had been on the Work Session agenda. Generally, items on the Work Session agenda are carried over to the Voting meeting, unless the Commissioner that places the item on the agenda requests that it is removed. The Commissioner that placed the Megasite on the Work Session agenda did not request its removal for the voting meeting, but it was removed by the Chairman of the Commission and, because it was not on the agenda, there was no discussion on the issue by the Commission. Certainly, citizens addressed the Megasite issue during the public comment section, but no Commissioner could address the issue. Now, I am explaining this because it is rather important to understand that the parameters of this meeting were set. Not only no outbursts, but nothing that could be interpreted as an expression on any issue was allowed from the citizens and no item that was not on the agenda would be discussed. In fact, a Commissioner at a previous meeting was not allowed discussion on a topic because it was not on the agenda, so there is a precedent here.

The Meeting lasted for hours-So long, in fact, that they had to change the video tape so that it could be recorded and aired. Finally, the Commission reached the end of the agenda and I had packed my things to leave, when the Chairman allowed Commissioner Turner to speak on an item not listed on the agenda. Commissioner Turner expressed his displeasure that Commissioner Tucker had called two Nomination Committee Meetings during daytime hours and said that he was not informed of the meetings. Commissioner Tucker, who Chairs the Nomination Committee, said that he had informed all Committee Members of the Meetings and noted that the Finance Committee always has day meetings. And it went seriously South from there…the voices got louder and the gavel banged harder and my papers went flying through the air. It was inappropriate and immature and aggressive and conduct not befitting any adult, let alone one that makes decisions for this County. And it continued on after the regular meeting and was the topic of discussion among the group of Commissioners that conglomerated after the meeting.

Now, I will say upfront that I have known all the parties involved in this debacle for several years and this behavior is not befitting any of them. This situation escalated so far, so fast, because these men truly do not like each other and it is obvious.  Commissioner Turner may have had a legitimate concern that he was not being contacted and that meetings were not at an accessible time for him to attend but that issue should have been taken up at the Work Session, not at a voting meeting where the cameras were rolling. According to the Chairman, only issues that require voting action are a part of the voting meeting….remember my previous reference to the removal of the Megasite from the agenda because it did not require action…and no item not on the agenda was to be addressed…again, reference the Megasite. This item certainly was not a part of the agenda- I checked. My biggest problem with this whole nasty mess is that this Commission will break and bend its own rules for its own purposes but it is unbending with the citizens that it is elected to represent. The only people out of control at that Commission meeting were the Commissioners. The only people showing disrespect for the importance of the office of the Commission were the Commissioners. The only people who were an embarrassment to the County were the Commissioners. Regardless of which side of the Mega issue that you come down on, in the end these people are still our neighbors and fellow Jefferson County residents and they have a right to be concerned about this issue. The Commission is more concerned with their petty rivalry than the legitimate concerns of citizens of this County. To my knowledge their property, livelihoods and way of life were not on the table and they could not hold up to the standard that they set for the citizens of this County. Perhaps it is time that they remember that they are only elected by the grace of citizen vote and perhaps it is time that the citizens of this County demand a level of conduct from our elected officials. If it wasn’t so pathetic, it would be funny. Well, almost.