Issues from demand for open meetings, conflict of interest, nepotism & cronyism, personal gain or use of public funds, even over-zealous use of authority deserve consideration as to merit, opposed to questioning motive or character assassination of those coming forward. Contrary to the approach taken, sworn officials account to citizens - not citizens to officials, sworn to uphold the law, perform duties of office, administer oaths justly & preserve records – a view not appreciated by the media and those charged so to deal. Honesty is least one should expect, if not more certainly not less!
From the public records I am shown business is done in Sevier County by failure to reasonably and timely collect delinquent taxes while recent tax base increases; assets as tax sale parcels held since 1982 still off tax roles, failing to follow Statutes with recordation of ill-prepared, improperly executed and notarized conveyances to the detriment of county; disposition of land assets in five industrial parks since 1965, part in secret – part open record, selling $M’s of assets, records flawed - authenticity questionable.
Attending Commissioner meeting, you might question committee appointments, by whom and more obvious the ‘control’ if not with the Board directly - indirectly with substitute, how is accountability transferable? Assess commissioners, they for themselves, in standing for their views and as ‘own person’ rather than with herd mentality, while harnessed toward outcome for politically favorable positions of one in charge! Can moral and legal accountability be relinquished to another? Where is the complicity when voting your district’s interest while employed by the School Department, Transportation & Highway or Sheriff’s Department, and in this state how can citizenry come forward without intimidation and have their chance of success in voicing their view, position, request or application? Folk, who’s looking after your business?
A change in laws, broader views, independent action with confidence and fairness without conflict or personal gain will benefit our citizenry and the government you maintain as commissioners, perhaps a re-organization would be in order so as to avoid complicity and claim lack of knowledge, how long can this go on? Take a look around – review audits, Resolutions (actual content, not a shell), demand reports, verify rather than accept verbal statistics, follow up on outcome of responsibilities delegated in many instances – this is your job, not the citizenry of this County!
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Marshall,
Pigeon Forge
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User Comments
The so called "ethics committe" for Sevier County is very good at "shooting the messenger" of bad news. All complaints are just dismissed as sour grapes or as a campaign ploy. Sometimes the charges against county officilas are not only unethical but illegle. The local press doesn;t seem to question the ilegle activities of any local officials. I would think that not too many people think it is OK for Larry Waters to award no bid contracts for printing to his wife's company. Is it OK for the county road supervisor to pave private driveways with county materials? These were just some of the allegations that went unanswered by the ethics committee last month and have been ignored by the local press since then. You might not like the messenger but I believe that these and other complaints are very serious and demand at least some basic investigation. This, if true is simply misuse of taxpayer funds. I want some answers from Larry Waters and the road commissioner! The county attorney was the one that recommended the "ethics" committee dismiss these complaints.
Is the county attorney a member of the ethics committee? He seemed to giving his "opinions" without the committee officially asking for it.
For all practical purposes, he IS the committee. They don't make a move without his opinion first, whatever he says is what they do. His legal advice has been proven wrong on more than one occassion but noone seems to care.
That attorney, though he attempts to wear many, many hats, none cover his head, however, as most cover his 'Ars'!
He is the person that covers for the ilegal activities of the county mayor and other local officials. He doesn't have to be right, he is a friend of Larry's. So what if he is wrong, he keeps the local boys out of trouble. It's a rat's nest.
Why doesn't one or more of the local newspapers do a story on some of the 14 different allegations made at the Ethics Committee Meetings? Perhaps there was some sour grapes but are all 14 complaints sour grapes? There seems to be some legitimate and very serious complaints against our public officials, including our county mayor. It sure would be nice to get to the bottom of these complaints instead of relying solely on the county attorney to tell us anything; We know we can't trust him. Why doesn't one of the newspapers step up, follow this story and investigate?
An investiative reporter is exactly what is needed, we really could use an intergetic hard-working reporter with a keen sense of delving into these situations. I would be most happy to give some specific directions as to finding much material to work from, and I have attempted for some time to arouse a keen interest, he/she hasn't surfaced to date - where, oh where are you Investigative Reporter? Look at a specific deed recorded in Register's Office, signed by the County Mayor before a notary - the signature questionable, yet assets of the county are sold by such quit claim deeds of record! Follow the county attorney around and see what he does and to whose interest he works, who hires him and who does he represent? Since the Ethics Committee will not, assuming they feel it is not their resposibility to investigate - how can the complaints be investigated or proven except by proof in some form, these means work - but, if you can find a public record which you can copy as an exhibit, have it certified by the keeper of records, attach it to the complaint, then attach an affidavit that you are in fact the person complaining, you are who you say you are and you file the complaint to the best of your ability, knowledge and information - there, you got what the county attorneys 'thinks or believes' is appropriate to maitain your complaint. If that doesn't satisfy him or if he asks for your birth certificate then you can accomodate him as you go along, at least he can't say you're dead until he calls for your death certificate! If the committee doesn't meet except at three months intervals, there should be sufficient time for a good reporter to go to work, or you can load up your complaint, get on your horse and ride on down to the courthouse. Think about it!
Meantime, he might get on his horse, call in his possey of officers and go out and collect the personal property taxes which he has undertaken and not collected, question whether or not he is doing his job as there was close to 1MS's in delinquent taxes to collect with the last filing in April 2007. This Editor, with an investigative reporter, could cover one subject each week and stay busy for a year, let him know what you want resolved and point him in the right direction, perhaps he reads these comments and would appreciate your suggestions?
It seems like I read a story about eight or nine years ago, about the county attorney had his law license suspended for some kind of involvement with a stolden car ring or some kind of chop shop deal? Does anybody remember that? I can't remember where I read that, might have been the Knoxville paper. Does he answer to Larry Waters?
Has anybody (impartial) ever done an audit on the county attorney's budget? Who does he answer to and how is his job performance measured? When was the last time he had a job performance review? He seems like an out of control cowboy. Is his job another one of those "unwritten" job descriptions that Larry is famous for? He handles alot of public money.
To the Auditor - job performance would be one of those unwritten 'poliicies' of the County Mayor - of course he answers to no one other than the Count Mayor unless it would be the Board of Commissioners. His duties are simultaneous with the Delinquent Tax Attorney - there is a Statute enabling the County Mayor, as one of his prescribed duties or authorities giving him that right to hire the Delinquent Tax Attorney - for years, this job and the County Attorney has been the same position going back to the early 70's when George Allen served as county attorney. Fee may remember that time. I can show you figure provided by J. Clabo, Trustee, showing what has been turned over to the county as tax collections for a period of five years, this includes the base tax, plus the applicable interest and penalty which is 18% the first year he goes to work on them. For a five-year period the amount turned over was $2,975,000 - meanins his 'cut' on that amount was $297,000 allowable under the law. This is his mean & potatoes, the little work he does for the county is paid at whatever amount the County Mayor wishes to pay him, except in an audit - that should be right down your alley Auditor - go look for yourself and see thee figures.
The base tax turned over each year is between $500,000 & $700,000 and he whittles at these taxes over a period of ten years as they acquire up to a 100% interest & penalty. For the tenth year that falls ovv uncollected, those aounts are abated for collection as a results of his not doing his job. The county attorney handles no cash and has no budget, he doesn't need one - he works for the County Mayor! The Board of Commissions approved the named and chosen person by the County Mayor, as most other matters he presents with a herd mentality, go see for yourself and attend these meetings. We operate under a Private Act where it is provided for a County Mayor. He is NOT autamatically elected to preside as Chairman but he does because the Commission elected him, thus he is a one-man show consequetly, should a commission member serve as Chairman a more likely balance of control would be exercised - this allow a politically control situation where all committees are appointed, as you know, by the County Mayor, he sits on most committees, controls the agenda and on and on.............think about all these things, ask more questions, get educated and either live with these problems or do something about it! Auditor - it may be up to do to flush out these quetions. Replying to 'Remembering', I feel you have another in mind in the lose of law license, David Maxwell was the last I'm aware of, but no car chop-shop was involved, it was the co-mingling of clients funds with his personal account, records will show. As to being a "cowboy" he does qualify for that, as he offered to the Delinquent Tax Committee to get his 'posey together, if necessary, take them (the officers of the county) out and collection personal property tax - but, whether or not by posey, that is the job he is obligated to do rather than have them forgiven, the Statutes require that!
Wow, thanks for the info. It is just amazing that these things go on and no one seems to care, ask questions or demand answers, including the press- it's just business as usual. Unethical behavior is one thing but routinely bending/breaking state laws is quite another. These people work for us and we let them get away with this stuff. I guess it is true that we get the government we deserve. If people don't vote and have such low standards that they don't care about their community, why should we care? Of course, this is exactly what Larry is counting on - the uneducated public to rise up and not care. The apathy in this community is astounding and it is responsible for the schoolyard bully attitude of our local elected officials. Where is the moral outrage from our church leaders? Do we have any community leaders at all? Are all the lawyers in this town proud of the legal job that the county attorney is doing? Does he represent the legal profession well? Turn these bullies and thugs out into the street and make them get a real job. Take back your town.
Auditor - you're a fine person! Your reaction should generate other action by those who sit idly by and do nothing - there's no finer place to be on a rainy day than the Register's Office - full of interesting 'facts' - they are open on Fridays until 6 p.m. The records speak, or should speak for themselves as to authenticy - right? Education and information is a most, nothing like seeing for yourself! A work-shop should be held for Notaries before they are commissioned to apply that sacred seal which assures our democratic procedure in making certain as to that fact that legal documents are what they say they are - that is the true value of the Oath!!. Our lives and welfare depend on this assurance otherwise all shall fail! Look up that deed (quit claim) executed August 29,
1991 (RECORDED IN DEED BOOK 462, AT PAGE 452) between Larry Waters, County Mayor and Jettie Clabo, Trustee to Otis Tarkington for $8,000 - conveying 38 lots in 1st District, Sevier County - this involved tax sale parcels sold on private bids authorized by Resolution(s) of Board of Commissioners (1987 four years earlier) these officials to so function as 'per the best intrest of the county'! This Notary should be investigated, commission/seal revoked! - still working, as then, for the County Mayor! Compare the signature of Larry Waters on this particular document to ANY OTHER you can find on record and make a decision for yourself.
Auditor - to supplement info stated above, I was speaking with Just Wondering and learned that SQRPEG has accessed a website wherein you, as an individual and concerned citizen in Sevier County (or elsewhere) can read ALL INSTRUMENTS of record in the Sevier County Register's office filed since late 1999 - also can view all indexes of records back to 1993. By logging on to www.titlesearchers.com you can opt to use a 7-day trial service or become a member for $35. per month! Quite worth the expense if you would like to review any document, compare 'signatures', copy from your home or office at no additional expense - see
Book 1114, page 657 Register's Office for a 'fine' comparison of the true signature of the County Mayor - referenced in the 1991 deed mentioned above! Just follow the yellow brick road and it will take you HOME!
Would this be the same Jettie Clabo that Larry Waters appointed to serve on the "so called" Sevier County Ethics Committee? The same Jettie Clabo that voted to dismiss all ethic complaints against the mayor? So, if the signatures don't match, what does that prove? I am not following this story. It does seem like alot of sneaky stuff goes on in the first district. Didn't Larry yell at Max Watson recently that he should "get right with those people in the first district, they can help you." Wonder who he was referring to and what they can do for him?
The one and only Jettie Clabo - Trustee and Secretary of the Ethics Committee........who did what they did and failed! The signature in question (as the County Mayor has had this called to his attention prior to now) is forged!!! When you look at the hand-writing of the Notary, in her oath she writes in his name as having signed before her ----
above the signature is identical to her (insertion)
writing of his name - both the same!! Compared to all other signatures thus far compared to those located on recorded documents prior to this time and since, non compare to that signature, see for yourself. This means it is a fradulent notarization of a recorded document conveying county owned land which has been recorded in the Register's Office - if true, an offense punishable by a fine of $5,000 and removal as Notary.
Max Watson might want to include in his request for a 'workshop' on the matter he presented by written request the matter of workshop for Notaries??? It is true that the County Mayor was quoted in Mountain Press as saying something to the effect that 'he, Max Watson, needed to get right with the people of his district', he likely represents the people of English Mountain Area as it is in the First Civil District of Sevier County. I know he also represents the area near the John L. Marshall Industrial Park on Pittman Center Road, along with Commissioner Warren Hurst. I was in the meeting but didn't hear this comment - as a reader I presume he means that he, Watson, might not have as much influence in that District as he, the County Mayor, or that politically his actions might not be approved by members of his district - one does wonder, wonder what 'Just Wondering' would think ha?
Seeing my name mentioned, above, let me tell you what I know about Max Watson's presentation before the full County Commission - it was a parlimentary point of order - he raised the question to Waters as to how he thought he had the power to by-pass the vote by the full commission in prior meeting to hold a workshop on the open meetings issue, saying that he had written a leter to Waters with no response. Waters responded that he had 'referred that matter to the Steering Committee' rather than schedule a workshop and their 'position was that the workshop be deferred until and after the Legislature had taken up the question of amending (or whatever resulted in their consideration) which has now and since been scheduled for January as recently advised by Representative Fenney, posted in the Seymour-Herald by Letter to the Editor. Watson did not accept the response as satisfactory as there was no explanation to the question posed - the matter was simply another 'manipulation' of the powers that are! Of course,
with members voting the herd mentality as I have seen it referred to recently, the Mayor has the confidence (and does show by his actions) that he can do anything he wants and will until something changes - like reorganization of the Commission. That will be next September 2008, if it follows the usual process. Of course, things might get bad enough before that time where a rebellion would demand that he be thrown out and that could be done too!
Back to 'Auditor' - your question regarding an audit of the county attorney's budget; the next Audit which will be done in this county will cover the Year End June 30, 2007 and will be due and published by June 30, 2008 or some time before. That audit, as all others which I have read and which will be sent to each member of the Commission when published, will include ALL FINANCIAL RECORDS considered to involve the Sevier County Government.
I'm interested in seeing an audit which covers the sale of land in the industrial parks (4 in the county) where Sevier County sells it's assets in the form of lots to Public Building Authority of Sevier County by conveyance of deeds of record where excess of a million dollars are shown as the consideration in the document recorded in the Register's Office - research shows many transfers of this sort in the Ray L. Reagan Industrial Park,
Hogsdon-Hicks Industrial Park, John L. Marshall Technology Park and Thomas-Smith Technology Park at 407 Exit - all funded by Sevier County beginning in 1965 to present time. Where are these funds deposited when lots are sold, who received the money and accounts for same, and are they audited - my big concern at the moment, rest assured I'm working on that, anybody else interested?
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR "Ethics"! Who is your representive on the Board of Commissioners, is he (they) one of the Mayor's cronies? If you are not looking after your business are you leaving it up to your Commissioner and do you know his position on these issues - I've ask three or four Commissioners, and even two members on the Finance & Budget Committee where the county stands on the collection of delinquent taxes and they didn't know! As you know our base tax rate was raised in the April 2007 meeting of the Commission - yet, at the same time records will show there is in excess of ONE MILLION DOLLARS delinquent taxes, base alone, for the period 2005 back through 1998.
If shaming these people into finding out what it is they are supposed to know, I'm willing to attempt to do that - that is if it can be done. For too long, now,
this has been the reply I've been given about county business, how long can anyone with these responsibilities cry 'ignorance' and not know the meaning of the word? No one wants to be acused of being ignorant, perhaps a better word would be 'incompetent', or lack of ability, and one can't be expected to perform above their ability, that would certainly be unkind. My mother always told me that 'you couldn't make a silk purse from a sow's ear', I believe that is true!
Just Wondering wants to know who of you as commentors have a direct route to the Editor/Reporters with this newspaper? Wouldn't you just love having them do a story, at least one each week, on these matters as they surface? Do you think they are editing these comments and we could put some pressure on them?
I happen to live in the first district. My "reps" if you want to call them that are Max Watson and Warren Hurst. I don't trust Warren Hurst any farther than I can throw him but from what I have seen NONE of the commissioners can be trusted. I sure wish the press would pick this up and ask a few questions.
I too read the entire audit for Sevier County last year and had several questions. I posed my questions last year to Curtis Henry and the Mayor and never received any answers. This year I believe I will put my questions in writing and CC my senator. I agree with sqrpeg, Being incompetent is one thing (lots of our public officials are just plain incompetent)but doing illegal things and claiming incompetence if caught, is quite another tactic. It goes to motive, your honor. Is an open and fair local government too much to ask for?
and the truth shall set you free...calling Larry???
If amy one of us commentors should stray the least so as to be 'charged' with libel - suppose you know - Repeat after me - that 'the truth is the best defense'?! Have you called Larry yet? Someone dialed my cell and ask for Larry - 'another wrong number', a little slack must be allowed at these times, right? He may be nervous in the service, hope it's not fungus in the bungus!
On who's side is the truth - I suggest that a good public record is something more stable to rely on rather than 'she said, he said'. So, while I don't claim to be a politician, I have sat on the side many, many times and watched, I am embarrassed for some individuals in public service who defy the Cannons of Ethics while sitting on the Bench, as prescribed by the Judiciary and the laws of this State, and, I have at times felt the brunt of the scheming politicans who are power hungry and out to achieve their personal goals and not working for the interest of the public - when you call Larry, ask him about his position, I know he has been quoted by the media in saying he 'followed the laws as he knew them', perhaps this is very true! He mentions his church at Commission meetings, and rather than have a Chaplain for that group, he usually leads the prayer I have noted. Have you ever heard of prayers competing?
Was just wondering, what if we had missed this opportunity of exchanging these viewes in this manner had Joe Karl, as Editor, not opened the subject of Ethics up for this discussion to follow? Do you think he might do more, as suggested by 'Repeat after me'?
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