BUTLER COUNTY: Carpenter Shenanigans Rebuffed

I take no small measure of delight in this Journal piece outlining the hiring of an office manager.

As usual, one commissioner tried to bring in a crony...but in a rare moment of clarity, Don Dixon decided not to back Cindy Carpenter's plan.

Carpenter really wants to find Jeff Wyrick a job. She has failed again.

Let's go to the tape...

Commissioners Don Dixon and T.C. Rogers voted for Cooper’s employment, while commission President Cindy Carpenter voted no.

Among the five finalists who interviewed with the commission, was Jeff Wyrick, according to county Administrator Charles Young. Wyrick served a deputy clerk for Carpenter when she was county clerk if courts.

Rogers said he knew going into the interviews that Wyrick was Carpenter’s choice for the position, but said Cooper impressed him because she is currently running a large office and has the educational background for the job.

That leaves us with Dixon and here is what he had to say...

Dixon agreed. He said Cooper has a number of skill sets to bring to the job, including consensus building and dealing with personality issues in the office.

“She is energetic and optimistic. It will be a fresh set of eyes,” Dixon said.

The fact that she is from outside the county is also a plus, he said.

“She doesn’t know anybody from Butler County, she has never worked in Butler County and to my knowledge she is not related to anybody in Butler County,” Dixon said.

Someone on Facebook translated that last statement as "Let me call my family...We can get someone real soon to take that high paying, rich benefit county job, and keep the gravy train flowing."

SIDEBAR QUESTION: Has Dixon managed to get all of his cronies jobs???

Anyway...

The best part of the whole story was this:

Carpenter could not be reached for comment.

Of course she wasn't available, she was too busy scheming her revenge.....

Somewhere, Chuck Furmon is smiling because he doesn't have to deal with any of this crap anymore...

BUTLER COUNTY: Commissioners Go to Back Room for Deal

If there is a need for even more evidence that the Butler County Commission is corrupt and out of control, I can't think of a better exhibit than this. Once again, we find that Cindy Carpenter and Don Dixon are incapable of doing the right thing even when the result of any vote is a forgone conclusion.

Citizens don't ask much of their government, but transparency and a willingness to do the community's business the right way is certainly chief among them. These two clowns are not acting in the county's best interests. They do whatever they want and they don't care about what you, the little people who pay taxes in this area, think about anything.

Members of the Butler County Republican Party, you folks should be outraged and yelling from the rooftops about how absurd these two buffoons are making the party look. This is NOT what represents the best of what our party should be offering and it is on YOU, the Butler County GOP, that we have these pathetic people representing us. Do a better job next time and maybe we won't have to be the laughing stock of the state. Seriously, only Cuyahoga County's shenanigans out do the nonsense we have to tolerate here. And that is a real shame...

Butler County Republicans are serious people, but allowing these tools to be our standard bearers make us out to be idiots. Don't be their sycophants, speak out. And speak LOUDLY...

Commissioner Carpenter Strikes Again

Cindy Carpenter is a real piece of work. As far as I know, we're still in a financial crisis in this county and she's worried about employees snacking while working. Oh, don't think I didn't notice that Don Dixon missed yet another meeting...seems like that guy has about as many vacations as Michelle Obama...at least we aren't paying for his...at least, we better not be paying for them. Looks to me like the only guy focused on the county's business is Chuck Furmon...you know, the one that just got thrown out of office for whatever reason... Somebody ought to ask the Stuttering Tea Party Savior of Butler County what he thinks of all of this nonsense...

BUTLER COUNTY: Administrator Gets Out of Dodge

Thanks Cindy Carpenter and Don Dixon.  Now THIS is the sort of "leadership" we need alright...let's run everybody out of town!

Glad to see this guy got a gig where people will appreciate his skills.

Combs (Jones) vs Furmon

Updating a previous item on WMD...

It appears, at least according to this Dayton Daily Democrat News piece from Pitman that if both Furmon and Dixon go for re-election, then Combs will square off against Furmon.

Previously Combs was quoted as saying:

My focus will be to bring Butler County back to where it was when I left; the top county in the state with all elected office holders working together.

...which makes the choice of Furmon's seat kind of strange seeing as he is the only still-serving member of Commission from when Combs last served there.
So what is this really about?

Sheriff "Spotlight" Jones.

Say what?

Combs and Jones have been inseparable.  Whenever Jones needs a legislator to legitimize his issues, Combs is the go-to guy.

Butler County does NOT need a third Jones stooge on the Butler County Commission.  He already has Dixon and Carpenter.  Jones really ought to have the stones to run himself, but he's too afraid to risk giving up all the fiefdoms he already has under his control.

Every time I think the Butler County Republican Party is on the verge of resolving their severe case of the stupids, something like this comes up.  Republicans still have a LOT of work to do to defeat the evil cabal operating in the shadows...

Combs vs. Dixon or Furmon?

So if Combs is going to run for County Commissioner again, who is his target?  According to the Journal piece on the decision, Furmon has already drawn an opponent by the name of T.C. Rogers of West Chester.  The logical choice would be Dixon.

And THAT is going to be fun to watch.

Dixon has talked a good game; but so far, all I have seen as far as action is concerned is a lot of finger pointing and behind-the-scenes political horseplay with Cindy Carpenter. 

BUTLER COUNTY: Shadow Government Update

Michael Pitman has two pieces on the Butler County Shadow Commission that are worth takinga look at...

Here are a few things from the first...

“Dialogue is good, and I decided that it should take place in the open,” he said. “Quite frankly, leaving Commissioner Furmon out of the dialogue may have been wrong.”

-- Commissioner Don Dixon

No, Commissioner, you got caught.  Now we are supposed to believe that you think county business ought to take place out in the open?  Sorry, no sale.  If you actually believed that, you wouldn't have masterminded these talks in the first place.

Carpenter defended the idea of discussing alternatives, saying, “We need creative, innovative administrators.”


-- Commissioner Cindy Carpenter

Yes, but more than that, we need to have full faith in our government restored.  I have no objection to creativity or innovation, but I strenuously object to backroom deals and "good old boy" politics even if the old boy happens to be a woman.

Furmon said he knew nothing of the behind-the-scenes discussions until the day before they were supposed to take place. He said he was “amazed and disappointed.”

County staff “have really worked hard and under adverse circumstances,” Furmon said. “It just seems like a strange way to do business.”

--Commissioner Chuck Furmon

More on Furmon's reactions when we get to the second piece, but I want to reiterate that I don't necessarily oppose the idea that changes need to be made.  I agree with Furmon that the Dixon-Carpneter Shadow Government does seem like a strange way to do business.  Unfortunately, this is the sort of ehtics in government that this county has been sufering from for quite some time.

Now, on to the second article...

The two could legally meet without violating Ohio’s Sunshine Law, because Carpenter had not yet been sworn in as a county commissioner.

I have no problem with them meeting.  I have a problem with them making decisions and interviewing candidates all without the knowledge of their colleague who is -- supposedly -- in the same party as these two.

For me, this comes down to the fact that we do not have a unified front in dealing with the economic mess we find ourselves in because there are too many factions protecting their little fiefdoms at the expense of doing what is right.

So, yeah, legally they could meet...but I think the county would have been better served by doing the right thing.

Dixon put some of the blame for the current state of the county on himself, saying commissioners’ “leadership needs to be a little more pronounced.”

“I think particularly with me. I need to give more direct direction,” Dixon said. “I’m going to work on my style, help them work on their style.”

Oh, boy, where do I start...

A successful commission works as a team.  There is no 'i' in team.  That is a cliche for a reason.  Don't get me wrong, I don't expect commissioners to not have any differences at all, but I don't think it is too much for these people to show each other respect.  More than anything, Dixon could use a healthy does of humility and recognize that he is a part of a team that includes not just the other two commissioners, but the entire administration.

Carpenter defended the decision to discuss alternatives, saying she still believes practices need to change.

“One of the things that we have said in the past few months is we need to fundamentally change the way we do business,” she said.

I would agree with you Cindy, but there is a right way of doing things and you have demonstrated that you are not capable of seeing it.

My biggest fear about Carpenter has been her many connections to former Commissioner Mike Fox.  This move comes right out of the Mike Fox play book.  Is that really what we need in this county?  A replay of Mike Fox politics? I don't think so...

Furmon, who was oblivious to the conversations between Dixon and Carpenter, said Tuesday he wants to work past the closed-door meetings of his two colleagues. It was a much less aggressive stance than he took in an interview with The Cincinnati Enquirer on Sunday, in which he referred to his colleagues’ actions as “the epitome of arrogance.”

Furmon said the county administration has “bent over backwards” to present a 2011 budget. While he’s not happy with the back-room discussions, Furmon said wants to move on.
“I’m hoping to get past this and continue working together and do what’s right for the county,” Furmon told Cox Media Group Ohio.

Take note, Butler County Republicans, who the good guy is in all of this.  In every battle brought Furmon's way, he has taken the high road.  He serves this county with dignity and a moral code that is centered on doing what is right for the county.

But his reaction on Sunday in the Enquirer was right on target: It was the epitome of arrogance.  And while Furmon may wish to move on, I think it does the party and the citizenry as a whole a disservice if we don't remember this treachery down the road.

I have said it before and I will say it again: We can do better.  We have to do better.

BUTLER COUNTY: Scheming Commissioners and Scheme They ALMOST Got Away With

As any regular reader will tell you, I'm all about making some changes here in Butler County.  But if you have spent any time here at all, you would also know that I believe in transparency in government.  What Commissioners Don Dixon and Cindy Carpenter plotted to do behind closed doors is a travesty and it won't be forgotten.

According to the Enquirer story, Dixon and Carpenter planned to replace a significant number of personnel in county administration with cronies of their own without the knowledge of fellow Commissioner Chuck Furmon.  I expect this sort of chicanery from Dixon, but had been holding out hope that Carpenter might be different.  I guess the Jeff Wyrick Incident should have been a clue...

So what happened to this grand plan?  Apparently, according to the Enquirer story at least, Dixon grew a conscience or something.

What I really don't understand is how these two supposedly intelligent people think that they could do this sort of thing and not have the story get out.  How many people did they interview?  How many staffers were involved?  These two can't even run a simple coup without getting caught.  I am not impressed by the level of competence on display by our villains in this caper.

There is a right way to do business in government and so far Butler County hasn't seen it...at least, not for a long, long time.

BUTLER COUNTY: MetroParks NOT "Cheated" by Budget

So, Butler County Commissioners unanimously adopted a budget.  That's great.  And while the cuts in that budget are likely to hurt in the short term, it was the only reasonable and responsible thing to do.  I congratulate Chuck Furmon, Don Dixon, and Cindy Carpenter on doing the right thing and not kicking the can further down the road.

That said, I also have to take issue with this piece which quotes "resident" Lisa Wall saying that the commissioners "cheated" MetroParks.  MetroParks problem is the sole responsibility of their board of directors who apparently have been living under a rock in one of their closed parks and didn't realize that this county and this state is in a bit of fiscal bind.  By assuming that county funding would remain during a recession was foolish and lacking appropriate stewardship which is not the commissions fault at all.

If I read this right...

The county annually pays the parks district, which is not under county control, a stipend from the property transfer fees that would have been $400,200.

...the county is under absolutely no obligation to provide funding to MetroParks at all.  This is the sort of wacky thinking that leads to $4300 expenditures for 10 days worth of forms in the Clerk of Courts office.  Government, at all levels, has to tighten their belts and get back to the basics of providing essential services which are required and that is it.

We aren't out of this mess yet...

BUTLER COUNTY: Round-Up

As I have taken something of a self-imposed hiatus for the holidays I have been flagging some Butler County stories that I didn't want to just forget about.  So here are a few of those along with some stuff that hit the radar today...

BUDGET WOES

Mike Pitman had a story about how one county bureaucrat was trying to blame the Cincinnati Premium Outlet mall for taking away money from Butler County.  While this may have some elements of truth to it, Butler County should have been able to balance that with IKEA alone.

And isn't it ridiculous that the county is left to whining about the success of a development project in a neighboring county?  Why not offer some suggestions on what the county should do to make itself more attractive to business?

Pitman makes one mistake in his piece.  He writes:

The national economy is still to blame for many problems, including Butler County’s projected $7 million 2011 deficit.

That's just not right.  I could buy that if Butler County started its downturn at the same time and actually took proactive action to correct it.  But if you look at Butler County budgets, it's been nothing but SPEND, SPEND, SPEND with no end in sight (I was going to say with a few exceptions, but that's not really accurate either as there were plenty of exceptions, its just that at least one department gobbled up all those savings because The Exalted High Commissioner of the Sheriff's Department whined to idiots like Mike Pitman and the Intrepid Reporter Josh who were all too willing to air the dirty laundry while not saying a word about how sheriff Spotlight has been driving this county off a financial cliff for a decade or so.)

And then there is this guy...

But whatever is done, Commissioner Don Dixon said it cannot be business as usual, but rather business as it should be.

“It’s going to be difficult, it’s going to be difficult all over,” Dixon said. “But it’s not impossible.”

I can only laugh at yet another of Sheriff Spotlight's stooges rants and raves about money HE SPENT.  That's right, Donbo, you've been on Commission long enough now that this game is more than a little tired.  Shut up and get the job done. 

Jolly is a good man, but I have take a shot at this kind of thinking:

Jolivette said it’s unfair to play “Monday morning quarterback” with the Commission’s decisions in recent years.

“You need to be there at the time the contract was signed to see what was available,” Jolivette said. “And you can’t use the economic times that we’re in now to say, ‘Look at what you can get it at now versus what you got back then.’ Times were different and prices were different.”

Jolivette said the county’s reserves had increased to $14 million before the economy tanked. As a result of the poor economy, those reserves have been tapped into for the past three years, he said.

This is the sort of "philosophy" that lacks vision and principle.

The guy who said Commission was "spending like a drunken sailor" when he was on the outside looking in now thinks that we all just had to be there to understand it.  Exactly WRONG.  This county has had a spending problem (as Roger Reynolds frequently points out) for quite some time and the principled leader keeps some dough in a rainy day fund.  Butler County bought a Navy, Horse Cavalry, and an Air Force for starters.  admitting these things has to be the first step towards fixing it.

Thank God we have at least one elected official who gets it, the afore-mentioned Roger Reynolds:

“My concern for the 2011 budget is to ensure we have spending below revenues, approved spending below estimated revenues,” Reynolds said. “I have a significant concern that over the past two years we’ve continued to spend more reserves than we should be as opposed to cutting the expenditures.

“And now we’re in a position with fewer options than we would have, had we been more disciplined over the past couple years in cutting expenditures.”

Reynolds said he’s done more than voice his concerns; he’s tried to lead by example. Since taking over the auditor’s office, Reynold’s has cut the department’s budget by 35 percent.

When you discover where that 35% went, you will be outraged.  Because that 35% didn't get saved, Commission spent it.  Every last dime of it.

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Now we go to the Enquirer and Sheila McLaughlin for the story on the political maneuvering going on now that people are moving to their new gigs.

Clerk of Courts:

On Jan. 12, the central committee will give the nod to one of three people jockeying for the $68,000-a-year-job.

They are Jeff Wyrick, a deputy clerk of courts under Carpenter; Mary Swain, a court administration manager for Butler County Common Pleas Court and the GOP's state central committee woman; and Fairfield Township Trustee Steve Morgan, who runs M & M Fine Used Cars, a family business that his late father started more than 50 years ago.

Publically, Cindy Carpenter has backed Jeff Wyrick in the past because he was her right-hand man and her campaign manager.  It will be interesting to see how long her loyalty lasts...  In this field, Wyrick is probably the least likely to survive the cut, but he is probably the most knowledgeable and experienced candidate.
Swain's interest is a surprise of some sort. But her experience with the courts aside, I find nothing about her that evokes confidence in me that she is capable of leading anything.  The few times I have heard her speak on any issue have been underwhelming.  She has lived in the shadow of Carlos Todd the entire time I was aware of her existence.

Morgan is a fascinating choice and if I had to pick one of these, he would probably get my vote.  He's a business man and has held office.  Good combination of skills and what I have been able to learn about him so far shows that he is the kind of guy that could serve the county well.  If the Butler County GOP is serious about bringing new blood countywide, Morgan ought to be their choice.

Prosecutor:

Infighting between assistant prosecutors Lance Salyers and Jason Philabaum prompted Salyers to quit that job in November and announce that he's running against Philabaum for the GOP appointment, which the central committee will make in February or March.

Philabaum has come under attack by a third candidate, attorney Mike Gmoser, in what Philabaum has called a smear campaign.

According to documents obtained by The Enquirer, Gmoser, an assistant prosecutor in the late 1970s and early 1980s, met privately with party leaders in November and presented them with a letter that accused Philabaum of ethical violations for being paid for work on a civil case while he was an assistant prosecutor.

Philabaum has responded with his own letters to GOP officials, saying he did nothing wrong.

My choice?  None of the above.  Sticking a gun to my head?  Gmoser.  Why?  Gmoser makes all of the right people cringe.  Nothing against Philabaum, who would do well in the position; I just don't like who his friends are...
MIKE FOX

A federal judge brought the smackdown on Mike Fox and denied his motion to dismiss the charges against him.

I got nothing to add to this except that as I have said all along, anything short of prison for Mike Fox is a miscarriage of justice.


JOLLY PACKS UP

Nice story about the "end" of Greg Jollivette's political career (for the moment?)


CATES' FUTURE

I have been hearing rumblings that state Senator Gary cates may leave his post early and join the Kasich administration.  He has been involved in education and has made surprise appearances at the state board meetings.

If I am not mistaken, Cates is on his last term anyway in 2012.  While we still have some time for that to happen, it wouldn't hurt to start thinking about some of the possible replacements.

Bill Coley?  I think he is about to be term-limited in the Ohio House.

 

Tim Derickson?  He just got to the Ohio House, I'd like to see him stay there

Corky Combs? He just made the Policy Committee, but I think he is approaching term limits too and his interest in County auditor awhile back illustrates his desire to figure out what is next

Greg Jollivette? He has expressed an interest in continuing his career and he did mention the Ohio House as a possibility, why not consider the Ohio Senate

Roger Reynolds? Just throwing it out there...but we do need Roger to continue doing God's Work right here in Butler County

Nancy Nix? She should be able to garner the support to pull this off...

I'm just getting started...  If you got ideas, put 'em in the comments.

BUTLER COUNTY: Commissioner Dixon's Question

Commissioner Don Dixon asks:

“It appears to me a question we need to ask is: ‘Does the county need to be in the airport business at all?’ ” Dixon said before the vote.

Well, Commissioner, Butler County does have its own Air Force.....

Butler County Update: The Ironical Edition

While checking in with Intrepid Reporter Josh on the Rawnica story below, I couldn't help but see the story beneath it that asks the question: "Should sales tax hike be on table as county struggles with budget?"

Not only NO...but HELL NO!!!

Of course, you all expected that to be my answer...and that's not why I wanted to bring this up. The reason I highlight this particular post is there is this knee-slapper from Democrat Don Dixon:

Commission President Donald Dixon disagreed, saying any increased revenues would “just get lost in a big, black hole,”

“Quite frankly, I think our spending has been out of control,” he said.

I can hear you already... "But, Matt, he agrees with you."

Uhh...no. He doesn't.

At least, not in reality. He'll say things like this to Intrepid Reporter Josh because Democrat Don Dixon knows that saying things like this will keep him in office even though he hasn't said a word about what he would cut in the budget. He hasn't a word for his buddy Sheriff Rick "Spotlight" Jones and Prosecutor Robin the Pied Piper. Jones' department alone accounts for about 30% of the county's budget and both of these guys have said they are done cutting.

I know that Commissioner Furmon has sent back 10% of his salary. What has Democrat Don Dixon done?

Commissioner "Democrat" Don Dixon, my advice to you is to pay attention to the age old axiom that ACTIONS are louder than WORDS. We've seen the expelling of hot air, now let's see you do something about it.

Bravo Commissioner Furmon!

Intrepid Reporter Josh has an interesting story he just put up that shows at least one Butler County Commissioner gets that when times are tough, it's time to do cut his pay.

Butler County commissioners have enacted pay freezes, pay cuts, furloughs, layoffs and more to slash their personnel costs and address a multi-million dollar budget shortfall.

But what about their own salaries? What are they sacrificing?

Commissioner Charles Furmon already cut his own pay, allotting 10 percent of each paycheck back to the county for several weeks now. He did this with no fanfare.

“I just felt that it was fair,” he said, referring to sacrifices made by staff during these “unprecedented times.”

Notice that the other two guys (Jolivette and Dixon) say they would cut their pay, but only Furmon is actually doing it...

Bravo Commissioner Furmon!

Butler County Update

Competence matters.

It's part of the WMD Mantra on politics...

On September 14th of this year, we needed competence in the Emergency Management Agency in Butler County when what was left of Hurricane Ike tore through the area.

We didn't get competence.

Intrepid reporter Josh has an article and a blog post on the subject. In the article, we learn that Commissioners Dixon and Jolivette have called for a "change in management" at the EMA.

But it is this bit -- from the head of the Butler County Chiefs of Police Association -- that will leave a mark:

"Leadership, coordination, communication, direction, resources, as well as anything else that one might have come to expect out of the (EMA) in the aftermath of the windstorm were all absent," said the letter, signed by Association President Richard St. John, Fairfield Twp. police chief.

All of that is absolutely true.

EMA is trying to say that nobody asked for help and that's why they did nothing but that doesn't work for me because clearly this community was having problems and nobody should have to ask for help from the agency that is supposed to manage emergencies.

Before we move on, let me say that as much as I like Sheriff Jones, he's the last guy who ought to be put in charge of EMA.

In the blog post, we learn that the director of the EMA just got a raise. We are now rewarding incompetence in Butler County. Good move!

But let me take a moment to refute some idiocy displayed by commenter "Joe" who says:

Of course Chuck Furmon made the motion to give Turner a pay raise. It is called a political pay back for Turner hiring Furmon’s son in law and bumping his salary from 18,000. a year, to over $80,000.

Dude. You are an idiot.

Chuck Furmon doesn't have a son-in-law. He has a an EX-son-in-law. And that wasn't a recent development. Think about that for a few minutes before you go spouting more ignorance and beclown yourself some more...

Even dumber are the assertions made by commenter "Jess" who writes:

I have a good friend who works for the County and they told me the “county grapevine” has it that just a few days ago all three County Commissioners (including Furmon) sent County Administrator Tim Williams to Turner and asked for his resignation. Question is why did Furmon make a 180 degree turnaround from this position to “what a great assest” (Turner) is to the County and made a motion to give him a raise? Could it be that ole Kentucky Boy threatened Furmon that he would tell what he knows about his son in law and all those raises could it?

Uhh...no, jess. Thanks for playing. Feel free to wade around in the shallow end of the gene pool but I have to warn you that there isn't a lifeguard on duty...

This stuff is stupid.

And that's why competence matters. If we had competent people working for us, we wouldn't even be having this discussion. Giving an incompetent bureaucrat a raise is a horrible move and it is one that we will regret...

Butler County Update: Commission and Department Reduces Size of Government -- Democrats TICKED!

Back in the day, the Butler County Commission asked the Department of Environmental Services to get a little leaner and increase efficiency in order to provide a reduction in water bills that county residents pay. At today's commissioner's meeting, a plan was revealed that would accomplish exactly that.

[Source: Cox Newspaper's fearless reporter Dave Greber]

Guess what the amazing part is? Apparently, the commissioners weren't expecting that their directives would be followed:

Commissioner Don Dixon’s first response: “Wow.”

“You followed our instructions (to reduce bills and streamline the department) specifically,” Dixon said.

I'd certainly hope that they did exactly what you instructed them to do, Commissioner.

Of course, our fearless reporter just has to ask whether or not a few bucks worth of savings to the residents is worth 22 jobs. The comments are a real hoot... The answer, Dave, is YES. Government isn't supposed to be a jobs program...it is supposed to provide efficient service. No more; no less.

Butler county is in pretty good shape considering the idiots we have running things in Columbus. If we had a media in this area that actually would report on the good things happening here, maybe people would start to notice that.

Butler County: Budget Shortfall?

Cox Newspapers brave reporterette Jessica Lander-Heffner has a stunner of a report that indicates that slow retail sales might cut the budget in Butler County.

A 4 percent decrease this year in retail sales across Butler County could affect the county's budget, which figures sales tax into 32 percent of its general fund.

Butler County commissioners told business leaders attending the county Chamber Caucus in Hamilton on Friday, May 9, that although new retail stores like IKEA are expected to bring millions of dollars in sales tax to the county coffers, residents have not been buying as much as anticipated this year.

One of you smart guy readers can correct me if I'm wrong, but people are going to be paying this tax whether they are a resident of the county or not... If you shop in Butler County, you are going to be contributing. Anyway...let's get to the real issue, which is this:

Commissioner Greg Jolivette said the county anticipates 3 percent growth in sales tax every year when it figures its budget. So far, it hasn't been produced, with March and April figures showing the area is 4 percent behind from where it should be at this point in 2008.

Jolivette said the county is hoping for a pick up in sales this month.

"May figures will let us know how the year ahead will play out," he said.

I sure hope that there is a contigency plan...because this doesn't sound all that good. Maybe instead of building new animal shelters and building for the board of elections, we should have saved some of that dough for a rainy day like today... I'm just putting it out there...

Quoth Commissioner Don Dixon:

However, Commissioner Don Dixon said due to current economic trends, he does not expect sales to increase and the county should adjust accordingly.

"We have to get our own fiscal house in order and we can't depend on sales tax to carry our budget," he said.

Dixon said he foresees sales dropping dramatically, much like the current housing market, and it would be prudent for the county to find other ways to supplement its budget than through sales tax.

"We need to reduce the size of county government to create enough reserve to carry us through some difficult times."

Boy was I ever wrong about Don Dixon. Dixon has quickly become the voice reason and sanity in these troubled times. And he is absolutely correct: we need to get efficient and place a much more watchful eye on county spending.

I want to draw to things out... Commissioner Jolivette says that the county anticipates a 3% increase every year, but Jessica is reporting a 4% decrease in retail sales. If I've done my math right, that's 7% that we're missing from a budget item that represents 32% of the entire budget. I have no idea what that is in real money, but it certainly sounds like a developing situation that ought to be addressed. I'm sure that the commissioners are up to the task, but we need to be kept appraised of this situation so we aren't taken by surprise down the road.

Butler County Update: Raise Freeze

Cox Newspapers' intrepid reporter Josh Sweigart reports on the major development from today's Commission meeting: all county employee raises have been frozen for a review of county policy.

Commissioner Donald Dixon made the motion, holding all raises and promotions 45 days "to ensure that everybody's being compensated fairly and equitably."

Commissioners hope this will give the county time to complete a salary comparison to see if the county overpays its workers.

Commissioners worried that they are too generous, citing automatic annual increases totaling 7 percent that many employees get. Employees get another raise if they're promoted, plus an automatic 4 percent increase 120 days after the promotion.

"I don't want to be the county that pays the highest and I don't wan to be the county that pays the lowest," said Commissioner Gregory Jolivette.

I think local government ought to be examining these things and making sure that we are getting the most efficient bang for our buck without letting the quality of services to falter. I think every level of government ought to do that. It's just a shame that it has taken so long for these things to come to light and I suspect that none of the officeholders were all that aware of just how much "real" money is being spent.

To be perfectly honest, this is exactly why in the private sector, there are "rules" about salary disclosure...stories like this have an effect on morale and ultimately the quality of service that residents receive could suffer because of it.

Back to the topic at hand; as a conservative Republican, I believe that government, regardless of what level, ought to provide the goods and services required of it at the most efficient cost while maintaining an appropriate level of quality. That is a difficult balance to achieve. I think we've been rather blessed to have such high quality people working for the county and they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

I also think that government work is not a meritocracy, and that reform is necessary to make it as such. We ought to reward those in government service who work hard and work smart while providing the best care and service for the taxpayer.

Spending is a problem in this county and we need to reign it in...

Butler County Update: Conklins and the "Politics of Patronage"

I've been a little remiss in my local coverage as of late. There is a story that I have been meaning to shed some light on and just haven't had much opportunity to do so. No better time than the present since it appears that we are about to get some "news" on the subject anyway...

Derek Conklin is the Butler County Administrator and his wife is an Assistant Director of Jobs and Family Services. There are allegations that Derek has exerted some influence on the pay raises that has his wife has enjoyed. There are also whispers that the Conklins' buyout plan, which had previously been approved by the Commission, is also a little suspect.

If all of these stories are nothing more than a good man and his wife doing the business of the county and accepting the benefits of a meritocracy, then so be it. But if there are some shenanigans afoot, then let it be known that this blog stands firmly against it.

Cox Newspapers' intrepid reporter Josh Sweigart has posted the salary history of Karen Conklin here. There do appear to be a few raises there that are about twice the increase in standard of living, but what we don't know is if those raises were merit based.

Speaking of Josh, here is how he set up the "Politics of Patronage" bit over at his blog:

In a position piece decrying the $3.8 million early retirement incentive program recently offered to Butler County employees, Commissioner Donald Dixon made an interesting reference.

Dixon: “(The retirement incentive) makes a bet that somehow the politics of patronage that has long dominated hiring practices in Butler County government will somehow change.”

The Breaking News that Josh is now reporting over at his blog is that both of the Conklins have resigned:

“We did not find any evidence of criminal wrongdoing,” said county Personnel Director Douglas Duckett, though he said his investigation was cut short by the couple’s resignation.

He also said it was limited to whether commissioners approved all of Karen Conklin’s pay raises, not whether Derek Conklin used his position to help her secure those raises.

I was chatting it up with a local politico this weekend who agreed with me that this was the most likely outcome. No surprise that this is what has transpired today...

All of this has been prologue for me to bring up something that I feel really strongly about and that is the importance of our local officials being competent as well as free of corruption. The problem, as I see it, with the Conklins is that we had a situation where it could be alleged that nepotism and/or favoritism was in play. That never goes well, but it is especially bad news in a county that is in the process of ridding itself of various shadowy figures. They sure weren't the first to leave office and I don't think that the Conklins will be the last to go.

I applaud Commission newcomer Don Dixon for keeping this story in the spotlight. Sunlight is the only disinfectant for these kinds of stories...

The Kay Rogers Aftermath

The Cincinnati Enquirer figured they'd better get a story out on this debacle and it actually is a pretty good one. A few new voices and a couple of calls for resignation.

Up first: we get to hear from the puppetmaster pulling a few strings...

“Talk about a dream becoming a nightmare” said Mike Fox, who was a commissioner when the deal was secured. “It’s just one of those gut-wrenching feelings. How in the world something that appeared to be such a good thing for the county got to this point, I’ll never understand.”

The deal was NOT secured...that's the WHOLE POINT. Let me explain it to you Mike, your buddy Kay signed papers and went to the bank that falsely led the bank to believe that the deal was secure when it wasn't. Got it?

And now for the resignation calls:

While saying they felt bad for Rogers, each of the county commissioners say Rogers should resign.

“I think it gives a black eye to the county and a black eye to the Republican Party,” Furmon said.
...
Commissioner Don Dixon, who re-joined the board last year after the Dynus scandal had seemingly fizzled, said as unfortunate as the situation may be, the county needs to move forward.

“I look at it as an opportunity to move forward in a positive manner, revamp that office and get somebody in there that can get the job done,” he said.

Commissioner Greg Jolivette said he regretted that Rogers wasn’t more forthcoming when details about the fishy deal came forward. Still, he cautioned that others may be implicated.

“There are still other people who need to be held accountable for pressuring Kay to sign these papers,” Jolivette said. “Kay Rogers didn’t think of signing these papers all by herself.”

Right on, Commissioner Jolivette...I've got a suspect in mind and he was mentioned in this post. ...and I'm NOT talking about the guy who reported the fiasco to the FBI...

Anyway...the next question is what happens if Kay Rogers refuses to step down?

It remains unclear if or when Rogers would have to resign her post.

Officials with the Ohio Secretary of State’s office said Rogers’ political fate will depend on opinions issued by the county prosecutor or county board of elections. Calls made to both offices were not returned.

Not to outdone, Cox Newspapers intrepid reporter teamed up with Cox Newspapers reporterette Lauren Pack for a story that is worth a read as well. From this one, we hear from Butler County Prosecuter Robin Piper:

"We do not know if it is her intent to resign," Piper said.

He said his office has not yet learned Rogers' sentencing date, which could determine any local action. If the sentencing is next week, there would be no need for action. But if the sentencing is not for 90 days, "then we are looking into how to proceed with removal from office if the person refuses to do so," he said.

"We are researching it right now," Piper said. "I do not have all the answers."

And the last question I have at the moment is who might the GOP appoint to replace Kay Rogers once she's gone?

One potential replacement circulating among party insiders is Liberty Twp. Fiscal Officer Roger Reynolds, who in 2006 won the GOP's endorsement before losing to Rogers.

Reynolds refused to comment.

Reynolds would be the logical choice... A number Butler County GOP sources have expressed this preference since he was the endorsed candidate last time around...

UPDATE: Another Cox Newspapers story has more Mike Fox:

Then county Commissioner Michael Fox, a driving force behind the fiber optics project, said that the commission had no idea that Rogers was negotiating with the company independent of the county. "There were apparently two conversations going on," he said.

(HT: Maggie in email) Uh-huh...

And what has Kay Rogers been saying all this time?

Until Rogers' plea was released, she maintained her innocence.

"I did nothing wrong," she said in a statement last year. "I am concerned that some of the forms in question appear to contain fraudulance (sic) and do not contain my actual signature. This is also apparently true of one of our commissioners and one of the employees of my office.

"As far as the forms that do contain my signature, I was only verifying my knowledge of the documents and the funds available to the county, since my office was overseeing the Fiber Optics Project. I was always clear to representatives from Dynus that the commissioners, and only the commissioners, may act as contracting agents for Butler County. If my signature was used improperly by outside agents, it is extremely unfortunate ... The commissioners know that in 10 years I have operated a highly professional office with full integrity."

Emphasis added...

I think we've found one side of the conspiracy...

UPDATE 2: Another hat in the ring...

Roger Reynolds is not the only potential republican candidate out here. I ran against Kay Rogers in a county wide election in 2002. There are many independents and moderate republicans in Butler County that want someone who is not connected to the current power structure in place. Actually, I supported Roger in his primary against Kay and I also supported Jack Zettler in 2006, regardless of party affiliation. The point is we need honest representation and I would certainly provide that!

Bob Weber

Butler County Update: A Plan Did Not Survive Contact with the Enemy

In a development that this political analyst finds absolutely stunning, an animal shelter project that is being paid for with taxpayer dollars is running...wait for it...over budget.

The Enquirer shines some light on this shocking turn of events:

A planned state-of-the-art animal shelter in Butler County is more than $1 million over budget and may need to be moved or reduced in scale, said county commissioners who plan to keep talking this week about cheaper options.

The proposal to rethink the shelter was suggested Monday by Commissioner Don Dixon as county officials work with an architect to create a rendering that falls within the projected price tag of $3.5 million.

The current design would cost $5.1 million, officials said. Making the building fit the $3.5 million budget could result in cutting a third of the shelter's planned space or making other changes.

The good news: Don Dixon is a developer so he should know how to cut some corners and still make the building work. The bad news: Taxpayers were sold on a one-time levy to pay for this boondoggle in the first place.

What alternatives are being considered?

Under Dixon's plan, the contemporary look of the design would change from a glass and brick building to a metal structure. Some of the amenities, including an atrium, would be dropped.

"We're building it for the animals. It's really not about the people," Dixon said.

The location would change from Princeton Road in Hamilton to Woodsdale Regional Park, an 84-acre space in Madison Township. The park has been developed under a lease agreement with county commissioners.

Dixon said he envisions a campus-like area for the animals that would eventually grow to include an agility course and area for the larger animals that are brought to the shelter.

I'm a little fuzzy on the whole moving the location saves the taxpayer money part, but there is an added bonus to moving from the current location:

Eventually, the deal could have two-pronged benefits - more pet adoptions and a revitalized park.

Because we're all about revitalizing parks...and pet adoptions...

Oh, I can't wait to hear from the Rawnicans on this one...should be fairly entertaining... Of course, the voters went along with this idea in the first place, so I'm sure she's got some Illuminati/Trilateral Commission yarn to spin...the possibilities are simply endless!