Who is Tim Sweezey Monticello City Manager?

Tim Sweezey is the new city manager for Monticello.  Who is he?  Where did he come from?  When was he interviewed?  When did the city council vote to hire him?    The Monticello "News" has not reported these things.  A search of the internet tells us a few things about Tim Sweezey.   He is from Alabama and went to Auburn University at Montgomery. 

What the internet does not reveal is the confirmation of the rumor that Tim Sweezey got his job because he is related to Joel and Jan Gaston.  Getting a job because who you know is part of the Monticello elite.  It's the Jasper County Way.


April 23, 2009
St. Clair News-Aegis 

2006 Police Report Surfaces Alleging Assault by Sweezy

By Michael Mee

Last week Pell City Parks and Recreation Director Tim Sweezy was not reappointed to his position at a council meeting after a 4-2 vote.

After his ouster, Sweezy and his wife appeared on AM 1430 WFHK’s radio show and spoke for nearly an hour with host and ex-mayor Adam Stocks about an incident that both Sweezy and his wife called “regrettable.” That incident involved a domestic violence report.....
http://www.newsaegis.com/local/x155259984/2006-Police-Report-Surfaces-Alleging-Assault-by-Sweezy

 May 1, 2009
St. Clair News Aegis (Pell City, AL)

Sweezy Pleads with City for Job

By Joel Paris

The Pell City Council voted unanimously there was no position opening for former director Tim Sweezey in the parks and recreation department last Thursday afternoon at his personnel hearing. Mayor Bill Hereford allowed Sweezy to make a lengthy statement in which he implored the council to reconsider their decision.

“In the ten years that I’ve been here… I’ve had a solid track record for the city, a solid track record of achievement and a solid track record of doing what’s right. We all make mistakes,” Sweezey said. “I’ve admitted publically and I’ve admitted privately to my wife that I have made mistakes, she’s made mistakes. We both accept 50 percent of the responsibility. In fact, I’ll go a step further. I actually have more responsibility that she does. With that being said, I don’t know that the punishment is equal to the crime.”

Sweezey’s wife, Rebecca, filed a domestic abuse report and has since filed a supplemental report to further explain the incident that Sweezey believes cost him his job.
http://www.newsaegis.com/local/x155260030/Sweezy-Pleads-with-City-for-Job/print

Gun Control Isn't about Guns

...and never was.

Gun control has not worked in D.C. The only people who have guns are criminals. We have the strictest gun laws in the nation and one of the highest murder rates. It's quicker to pull your Smith and Wesson than to dial 911 if you're being robbed. - Lieutenant Lowell Duckett, President Black Police Caucus, Special Assistant to Washington, D.C. Police Chief
I am convinced that we can do to guns what we've done to drugs: create a multi-billion dollar underground market over which we have absolutely no control. - George L. Roman

They have gun control in Cuba. They have universal health care in Cuba. So why do they want to come here? - Paul Harvey, 1994
This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future! - Adolph Hitler, 1935, on The Weapons Act of Nazi Germany

The Enormous Power of a Biased Media

A REMINDER IN HISTORY

General VoNguyen Giap was a brilliant, highly respected leader of the North Vietnam military. The following quote is from his memoirs currently found in the Vietnam war memorial in Hanoi :   'What we still don't understand is why you Americans stopped the bombing of Hanoi . You had us on the  ropes. If you had pressed us a little harder, just for another day or two, we were ready to surrender! It was the same at the battle of TET.  You defeated us! We knew it, and we thought you knew it.   But we were elated to notice your media was helping us. They were causing more disruption in America than we could in the battlefields.  We were ready to surrender. You had won!'   General Giap has published his memoirs and confirmed what most Americans knew. The Vietnam war was not lost in Vietnam it was lost at home.  The same slippery slope, sponsored by the U.S. media, is currently underway. It exposes the enormous power of  a Biased Media to cut out the heart and will of the American public. If you lived through the time of 'Nam you will recognize the truth of this thought, Do not fear the enemy, for they can take only your life. Fear the media, for they will distort your grasp of reality and destroy your honor.

The single largest challenge to Georgia's competitiveness is a lack of K-12 education

Georgia economic growth will continue for 2013 but....

By J.D. Sumner - Albany Herald

If Georgia wants to remain competitive for new businesses with other states and with countries overseas, it will have to get a grip on education, officials from the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business said this week.

Speaking at a luncheon on the 2013 economic forecast, Terry College Dean Robert Sumichrast put it bluntly for the business, civic and political leaders in attendance: 

"The single largest challenge to Georgia's competitiveness on a regional, national and global level is a lack of K-12 education," Sumichrast said.

READ MORE http://www.albanyherald.com/news/2012/dec/06/georgia-economic-growth-will-continue-2013/

Commissioner Jack Bernard has been condemned for questioning the quality of education in Jasper County over the past several years.  He may have been right all along, but that does keep those in charge from incessantly tooting their own horn and willingly tell us everything is wonderful.  It's the Jasper County Way.

Something the City Council could do besides bicker

147th Street in the city of Monticello runs between Highway 16 close to Ingles and Highway 212 at Piedmont Academy.  This street is overwhelmed with traffic every school day and has an incredible amount of cars that use it.

The condition of this road is terrible.  Potholes are everywhere and they can not be avoided if another car is met while traveling this road.

Instead of their constant bickering the city council needs to do something good.  Black people live on this short road which would give the two councilmen intent on making everything a racial issue a reason to fix it.





These two councilmen are fed information from the gallery during city council meetings, particularly from Jackie Bell.  These two have left the meeting more than once and stepped outside the council chambers to get their orders, what to say and how to vote, from Ms. Bell.  Maybe Ms. Bell could give them the word and have this road repaired.


Poor roads, poor representation.  It's the Jasper County Way!

Jasper County Sees Many Changes with Election Results

Jasper County will have a new Sheriff, Donnie Pope.  He will be fulfilling his life long dream.  He won overwhelmingly, and people are hopeful Jasper County will finally have some law enforcement again.  It would be good for Jasper County not to be known as a lawless county any longer.

Jasper County will also have a new Coroner after 27 years.  Billy Norris was defeated by newcomer Michelle Haddock.  Michelle has promised quick responses and timely death certificates.


The Board of Commissioners has four new faces and one that has been around for 3 decades.  Carl Pennamon was elected for his eighth term and won handily. He ran on unity and getting along and bringing jobs to Jasper County. 


Bruce Henry defeated Charles Hill after 16 years of service.  Mr. Henry seems to be quiet and reserved.  Road problems may be where he focuses his efforts based on his comments at the forums.  He works at Kennesaw State University.


Gene Trammell won in July by defeating Jack Bernard.  He has held elected positions before in other counties and rumors are he will be the next Chairman.  He has been Chair of the Jasper County Water and Sewer Authority and served as interim Jasper School Superintendent a few years ago.  Mr. Trammell said he works from a strategic plan which he will put in place in Jasper County.

Craig Salmon defeated Joan Bell and will replace Mary Patrick who decided not to run again.  He has been Treasurer of Jasper County Water and Sewer Authority.  He has a vision for the county that everyone will get along and be of one mind.  He also spoke of bringing jobs and industry to the county. 

Doug Luke won in July by defeating Alan Cox.  No one knows much about him or his ideas for the county. He is a deacon at Shiloh Baptist Church. 


Doug Luke and Bruce Henry will be the balance on this new board if they can think for themselves and be willing to make hard decisions.  Trammell, Salmon, and Pennamon will push for what their monetary backers want done.  These three were strongly supported by the "Monticello click."

Another new face will be Angela Walsh, replacing Merry Faulkner (retiring) as Tax Commissioner.

MONEY TALKS & BUYS ELECTIONS

Susan Holmes, former Mayor of Monticello and current State Representative has been passing out campaign contributions.

Those that have actually reported contributions from Rep. Holmes are newly elected District 3 Commissioner, Gene Trammell ($500), and District 4 hopeful, Craig Salmon ($200).  Both these men serve on the Jasper County Water Authority.

Ms. Holmes could not control the last Board of Commissioners, but seems destined to have the new BOC under control.  She has long had Commissioner Carl Pennamon in her pocket, and it appears she and her friends are working hard to defeat current commissioner Charles Hill.

We can only hope that the new BOC will have more sense about financial matters than Holmes exhibited during her terms as Mayor of Monticello.

Money talks and buys elections.  It has always been the Jasper County Way!

Greg Sands--Why sit out on unpaid leave when you can draw Workers Compensation?

The Sheriff of Jasper County has a rule.  If you run for office, you have to go on unpaid leave when you qualify to run for office.

Several deputies, including Greg Sands, qualified to run for Sheriff.  Rick Cook and Donnie Pope both went on unpaid leave when they qualified to run on the Republican ticket.  Mr. Sands, who qualified as a Democrat, went on workers compensation just a week or so before he was go on unpaid leave.


Instead of having to go without pay, somehow Mr. Sands' own daughter ran into his patrol car as he was driving toward Larry's Four Way Stop on Highway 212 just a week or so before having to go on leave.  No one seems to know about this unusual and coincidental situation.

Greg Sands for Sheriff?  Why sit out on unpaid leave when you can draw Workers Compensation?  It's the Jasper County Way.

School's Finance Director Gets Raise while Teachers Stay on Furlough

The Monticello News recently reported that the School Board approved a Finance Director position.  (Hannah Pope, Thurs, Sep 13, 2012)  This is a new position that will be filled by Anne Harrison, current system accountant.

This vote was taken after a roughly one hour executive session during a called meeting August 30. School Board member Bobby Norris was not in favor of the motion.  This position will take the place of the Assistant Superintendent position that was vacated by Eric Arena before the start of the 2012 school year.

Rumors are that Ms. Harrison will be getting a $17,000 per year raise along with her new title.What is the difference in job duties between a system accountant and a finance director?

Teachers are having to take furlough days and cuts have been made to the number of days students attend school due to lack of funds.  There are also rumors of bus drivers, secretaries, and other non-professional personnel not being able to receive health insurance benefits.

No money in the budget, but a new title means a big pay raise, while those that teach are on furlough.  It's the Jasper County Way!

Where does Judge Linda Mock Keller live?

Probate Judge and Elections Official Linda Mock Keller says she lives in Jasper County.  The Jasper County Board of Assessors records show she has homestead exemption on her house at 159 Maddux St. in Monticello.  That house is still in the name of Linda Mock.  She has to keep her homestead here to be able to keep her $60,000+ a year job as Probate Judge.  It is a way to say she really lives in Jasper County.

Where Judge Mock Keller really lives, travels to each day and spends the night, is in Washington County.  Her property there is in the name of Linda Mock.  She bought it from her husband Steven Keller.   This is a picture of the mailbox out in front of her property. 

She lives on a dirt road which explains why her car is always covered with dust and dirt.

The property record card from Washington County showing details of Ms. Mock's property.

Pretend you live in Jasper County so you can keep your job.  It's the Jasper County Way!