Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2008
BARROW JOURNAL
PAGE 11A
BOC District 3 -
Occupation: Attorney
Describe your back
ground: Practicing attorney
for 30 plus years. County
attorney 1988-1994, District 3
Commissioner 2007-2008.
Barrow County continues
to face difficult economic
times. Do you think it is
appropriate for the county
to dip into reserves to com
pensate for revenue short
ages or would a tax increase
be a better solution?: A tax
increase is not possible until
FY 2010. Our reserves are
minimal and must be protect
ed. Our first option must be
further expense reduction.
Do you believe the recent
ly announced cost cutting
measures will be sufficient to
see Barrow County through
the current economic crisis?
Why or why not?: No one
can accurately forecast future
revenues. Our budget is based
on our best revenue projec-
Occupation: Public Works
Director, City of Monroe
Describe your back
ground: I have been married
for 25 years and have three
children.
I have lived in Barrow
County for 17 years. I have
12 years experience with the
Georgia DOT and 13 years
experience as Public Works
Dir. for City of Monroe, over
seeing street maintenance,
street paving, sanitation, recy
cling, building maintenance,
fleet maintenance, and airport
operations.
Barrow County continues
to face difficult economic
times. Do you think it is
appropriate for the county
to dip into reserves to com
pensate for revenue short
ages or would a tax increase
be a better solution?: At this
time, I feel that we do not
need to dip into the reserves
or increase taxes. First, I
believe there are still ways we
can cut the budget. Then, if
we need, we can use some of
our reserves to help us through
this tough time. A tax increase
should be the very last choice,
for as we all know, once taxes
Bill Healan
tion. The budget is, however,
only a plan. We must be pre
pared to amend the budget if
actual revenues fall short.
The Sheriff’s Office is pro
jected to end fiscal year 2008
approximately $600,000 over
budget. Do you believe ade
quate controls exist to moni
tor spending throughout the
year? Why or why not? The
controls have always existed.
Since the fiasco with the
Sheriff this year, those con
trols have been enhanced. I
fully expect the new Board to
consider even greater protec
tion for taxpayer money.
In what areas do you feel
Barrow County could make
further budget cuts?: The
Board did a comprehensive
review in September. We
made a concerted effort to
minimize expenses.
Further budget cuts would
require the same kind of
review. Any area which I
Steve Worley
are increased they are seldom
lowered. As far as I am con
cerned, the current BOC have
already imposed a tax increase.
They just call it a Stormwater
Utility Fee. According to the
County Administrator this fee
will be increased each year.
Unfortunately for Barrow
County, this fee could have
been avoided if SPLOST funds
had been allotted for stormwa
ter management. I personally
brought this to the attention
of the County Administrator
and staff approximately six
years ago.
Do you believe the recent
ly announced cost cutting
measures will be sufficient to
see Barrow County through
the current economic crisis?
Why or why not?: I believe
it will help, but I think there
is more that can be done.
Some of the measures that
have been put in to place will
need to stay in place to pre
vent problems in the future.
The Sheriff’s Office is pro
jected to end fiscal year 2008
approximately $600,000 over
budget. Do you believe ade
quate controls exist to moni
tor spending throughout the
identified
would be
just a guess.
If reve
nues remain
flat, would
you sup
port layoffs
of county
employ
ees?: We
have a very
capable, concerned group of
county employees. We must
protect their jobs if at all pos
sible.
There should be a number
of steps we should consider
before we are to consider lay
offs, furlows, for example. I
would not support layoffs as
the first action taken if we find
ourselves with flat revenues
next year.
We must examine other
areas of the budget before we
get to a reduction in the num
ber of employees.
HEALAN
year? Why
or why not?:
Yes, I do
believe ade
quate con
trols exist.
However,
they have to
be followed
by depart
ment heads,
finance department and
the county administrator.
In what areas do you feel
Barrow County could make
further budget cuts?:
(1) Engineering projects
should be done in house with
the exception of major proj
ects.
(2) No employees includ
ing department staff should be
allowed to drive vehicles home
except for on-call employees.
(3) I will be looking into
more areas in the near future.
If revenues remain flat,
would you support lay
offs of county employees?:
I would only consider this
after all other options have
been exhausted. Even then,
my first move would be to
consider upper management
furloughs.
WORLEY
Retiring judge honored at roast
HONORING THE JUDGE
Judge Robert “Bob” Adamson was the guest of honor
at a roast last week at the Winder Community Center.
Photo by Kerri Testment
By Kerri Testement
Judge Robert “Bob”
Adamson will soon have
more time for his favorite
hobbies — fishing, garden
ing, hunting and even country
cooking.
Adamson is set to retire on
Dec. 31 as senior judge of
the Piedmont Judicial Circuit
— which includes Jackson,
Barrow and Banks counties.
Adamson was honored
during a retirement party
on Thursday evening, when
attorneys, law enforcement
officers, elected officials,
family members and friends
gathered at the Winder
Community Center.
During a light-hearted
“roast” of the 67-year-old
judge for the party, district
attorney-elect Brad Smith
joked about the “boogey
man” stories of Adamson he
heard while a young prosecu
tor.
“We were told he broke the
horse — and he ate it,” Smith
joked.
But on a serious note, Smith
said he considered Adamson
a role model and inspiration.
Walter Harvey, a defense
attorney in Jefferson, said he
had the pleasure of practic
ing law with Adamson and
appearing before him as a
judge.
“Bob, we’ll miss you,"
Harvey said.
Adamson graduated from
the University of Georgia
School of Law and was admit
ted to practice law in 1971.
He was an associate and part
ner in the Winder-based firm
of Russell, McWhorter and
Adamson. In 1992, he was
elected a superior court judge
for the Piedmont Judicial
Circuit. Adamson said he was
honored to have served as a
judge for 16 years.
“I have a great pride in what
we do," he told the attorneys
in the community center.
Adamson thanked his fam
ily, including wife Nancy
Perkins Adamson, who is a
senior vice president of The
Peoples Bank in Winder.
He has four children and
lives in Winder. Adamson
announced last year that he
wouldn't seek another term
on the bench. Winder attor
ney Currie Mingledorff will
replace Adamson on Jan. 1.
The party also honored
Gloria Purcell, who has been
a secretary for superior court
judges for 32 years, including
19 years in Jefferson.
ALL ABOARD
Heather Teague of Auburn enjoys the train ride with two-year-old son Harris Teagut
and 7-month-old Hadley Teague. Photo by Jessica Brown
Bonnemer continued from 7A
I have 31 years experience with law
enforcement, of which 28 years have
been spent at the Barrow County Sheriff’s
office, where I am the senior Deputy. I
have worked under three Sheriffs and have
experience as a road Deputy, Detention
Officer, Court Security Deputy, Work
Release, and am now back on the road
serving Civil Papers.
The Sheriff’s Office is projected to
the end fiscal year 2008 over budget
by approximately $600,000. As Sheriff,
what measures would you take to insure
your department ended the year at or
under budget?: I will monitor the needs
and requests of each department of the
Sheriff's Office and discuss the require
ments with each division supervisor. We
are fully aware that we cannot totally
predict the number of inmates or the
transports or the cost of fuel or repair or
replacement of Sheriff's Office property,
but we can save by utilizing all that we
have now: the patrol cars, the uniforms,
weapons, equipment, electronics, and the
great personnel we already have working
for Barrow County Sheriff's Office.
We will have to adapt to the hard times
we are facing at this time, not only in
Barrow County, but in the great United
States; we will improvise to make the
best with what we have and what we
shall receive; we will overcome the crisis
through the year 2009 along with our
citizens and businesses here in Barrow
County.
Personally, I will take a 10 percent
deduction in my 2009 salary as Sheriff
of Barrow County and use that for youth
education and items we might need within
the Sheriff’s Office.
The current Sheriff was asked
twice to appear before the Board of
Commissioners to explain why his
department was ending the year
over budget. He declined. Do you
feel the Sheriff should answer to the
Commission regarding budgetary
issues?: Yes, as Sheriff, I would speak to
the Commissioners, as should every other
elected official and department head when
the budget is presented for discussion.
However, the Commissioners need to
listen and create an open forum with
the Finance Department also in atten
dance to understand that budgetary items
are reasonable and necessary. The budget
had been approved by the Commissioners
in spite of discrepancies between funds
granted in the budget and actual projected
costs. I believe it is imperative to recog
nize that in order to provide a satisfactory
level of service, operating costs are going
to need to be addressed realistically. I
don't think we can simply reduce the ser
vices of Public Safety thereby putting the
citizens of Barrow County at risk.
The Sheriff has a discretionary fund
at his disposal. What do you feel is the
most appropriate use of this fund?:
The only discretionary fund that I am
aware of is also known as a Confiscated
Funds Account. This account is funded
by money seized from drug dealers as
well as proceeds from the sale of vehicles
seized from drug dealers. Virtually every
law enforcement agency maintains such
an account.
I feel that the most appropriate use
of the money from this account is to go
directly back into the Sheriff's office
for unforeseen needs, such as emergency
equipment purchases, undercover opera
tions, and more dire events. Everyone
needs to understand that this account is
subject to Open Records for inspection.
If elected, what will your top priorities
be during the first year of your adminis
tration?: My top priority will be to assess
the current situation to insure that the new
Jail/ Courthouse facility can be opened
safely and swiftly upon completion with
the workforce that we have now.
I believe we must occupy the new jail at
the first available opportunity in order to
stop sending inmates out-of-county to be
housed, thereby saving the taxpayers the
hundreds of thousands of dollars we are
currently paying.
Haunted continued from 10A
The building also features a
hanging tower. Though hang
ing was outlawed before the
tower was officially put to
use, rumors persist that some
prisoners were executed.
The Barrow County
Paranormal Society has con
ducted an investigation at the
museum and feels the location
is haunted.
After gathering EVP evi
dence during an investigation,
Colley said he would like to
do further work in the muse
um.
One of the more interesting
recordings according to Colley
is one in which a female voice
can be heard saying “listen to
this Fred.”
Colley believes the woman
may have been addressing
deceased museum founder C.
Fred Ingram.
Adding to his belief is
another recording captured in
Ingram’s former office.
According to those who
knew Ingram, the door to
his office was kept closed.
Colley said an EVP captured
in Ingram’s office was clearly
heard saying “close the door.”
During their last visit to
the museum, the BCPS was
accompanied by a young
medium.
According to Colley, the
medium was able to track
several spirits throughout the
museum.
Colley said he captured sev
eral EVP recordings of spirits
attempting to interact with the
medium.
Interestingly, the medium
would not investigate the base
ment. Colley said the young
lady went down the stairs,
but immediately left due to an
oppressive presence.
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