Based on the comments on this blog and from what I'm hearing, the Barry County Sheriff's race may be the "big one" this primary season in Barry County. The candidates will be debating tonight at the Barry County Commission on Aging building on Woodlawn Avenue in Hastings at 7 p.m. Fred Jacobs, publisher of the Hastings Banner, will moderate. I just learned I can't make it so I doubt I'll be posting a recap of it (if I can or if I can tune it in on local radio I'll edit this post later to reflect that). Feel free to post your own reviews in the comments, though let's try to keep this race on the level of who will do the best job and stay away from the "your momma wears combats boots" rhetoric, shall we?
On a related note, I'm glad to see the GOP chair decided to step back from moderating the upcoming primary debates. We saw last election cycle how dangerous it can be when a party chair intervenes in a debate in what was generally seen as an underhanded way set up to aid one particular candidate. I'm also glad that the local Republican Party finally stepped up and decided to quit whining about how the Democratic Party handled the debates and host their own, especially seeing as how it didn't make sense that in a one-party system it was the OTHER party that was actually doing a better job of letting the public know who was running and what they stood for. While it makes sense for the Republican Party to host their own primary debates, I still would prefer to see the debates sponsored by the local media and/or a consortium of local civic organizations especially when it comes to the general election- at least when we manage to get a slate on candidates running on both sides of the political fence.
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I went, ate cookies, drank coffee and listened. The session was way too short. Only a fraction of the questions from the audience where asked. Leaf was very well prepared, Sarver was working at disadvantage not having much inside knowledge.
Fred did zinger both of them on the result that the animal shelter incident was NOT canine influenza.
They both also bombed the riparian rights question. Sarver didn't fished about on the question and Leaf repeated the often mis-applied "property lines extend the the center of the lake" misconception, although the rest of his answer was spot on about created trespass issues.
Dar in some cases was reading from notes, mostly about the stuff you'd absolutely know would be asked about: constitutional requirements, enabling legislation, duties and background. I think Sarver would have been more well served if he would have made himself notes to go by too. I got the impression he knew what he was about, but without something to refer to and double check, Dar's comments where much more fleshed out and complete.
There was a bias towards currently active party members and that was made abundantly clear by the opening statement, the very first question and questions later on about party support and participation. *ouch* for all those who jumped on the party band wagon just in time for the primary, you might find you landed on a rake underneath the hay.
I didn't have any interest in the event, but notice the lack, so far, of any mention of building a new warehouse for concentrating citizens who don't conform to our rules.
Considering the price of gasoline and inconvenience of the location, perhaps future "debates" could be press releases. I suspect that the audience did not include folks from Deltonia or Pleasant View, but insiders from Orangeville may have been in town visiting relatives.
The real interplanetary visitor would have been PW who is still waiting for another political party to offer a candidate.
"Area 51 for you on line one, PW"
I'm not brain dead, I've never actually seen Leaf in a debate, nor Sarver. I'm keeping my opnion in that regard to myself unless I see a trend with next week.
A few things not touched with a 10 ft pole is the cost of the jail management software and why do we early release Barry Co inmates to get money to hold Kzoo Co inmates?
Last night was just another sham by the "new and improved" Barry County Republican Party. The event should have been run by people that are NOT involved with either of the candidates. V.C. is way too close to Darling Barney's campaign. It appeared that Darling Barney knew the questions. I am not the only one who noticed. Sarver gets asked about a city issue, but Darling Barney doesn't get asked about his 911 fiasco. It is a sad commentary that Darling Barney has been in office more than three years and had to read what his duties are. Heaven help our county if the smart voters stay home on election day again.
So let me get this straight. Since the Sheriff came prepared to answer questions, and Sarver with his multitute of degree could not keep pace then there is a conspiracy? I was once told, the person guilty will point the finger first. If you have questions about their campaigns why wait to ask? I have seen them both out and about. I found Sarver on a few occassions to snub, but hey what the heck, I am sure he thinks my vote does not count anyway. I wanted to ask Sarver who is Undersheriff would be? Was that answered or asked last night?
Now onto the conspiracy that the Republicans "staged" this. I must ask, are not the Sheriff and Sarver both Republicans, or is one a RINO?
No Doubt....Leaf knew the questions ahead of time. The entire show was pathetic. In no way, shape, or form, was that a real debate about the real issues.
How is it fair to direct a question to Sarver about Tom Emry and yet CENSOR the question from the audience about 911? Fred Jacobs was waiting for someone to ask this question and Vivian withheld it. UNFAIR. The people want to know Dar's answer to that question. Why is the Barry County Republican Party sheltering Dar? If I were running against Tom Evans I would think twice about participating in next weeks "debate" I am willing to bet Tom will have received the questions ahead of time.
Jerry Sarver has much more administrative experience that Dar.
Dar also joked about how much the media LOVES him....Generally when you cater to the media and even give them details about cases before you should they do love you.
What a horse and pony show. We need an Honest and independantly run forum for these dabates...not Puppet Theater
ASK dar himself...I know he had no answers before hand, heck I could not even see them. He had notes and reminders on a legal pad to help him if he got certian questions such as specifics on sheriff duties by law.
Vivian and Ben (the whole committee) only held back questions
that were personal attacks.
I went also and felt it went well, much better then the Dems' debate with the instant pie charts.
Overall I had to give Dar more points then Jerry but Jerry had the animal control question NAILED with the problems of sanitation in that petri dish...I have checked with my people around town and the volunteers are not being let in anytime soon and I don't like the idea of 'punishment' for wrongdoing by a volunteer.
I have offered to volunteer there MANY times being a certified animal control officer and someone with the knowledge and training to do serious work around there and EVERY TIME have been denied.
But is not Sarver a Republican?
Next week should be very telling then. Evans though, is not the type to need notes.
So again I ask, they are all Republicans, right? Yet you are now stating that 3 control the party. I would say if I was Sarver I would be ranting mad that I pay my dues to be a Republican and they give a upper hand to one, when both are participating members. They are both paying members that attend regular meetings correct?
Sarver has paid this year's dues and the fee to be in the booth at the BC Fair. In the 5 years I have been going to the meetings he has only been there ONCE that is June 16th.
Dar is a statutory member of the Executive committee, attends meetings regularly, and gives the board and members regular reports on issues regarding the Sheriff Department.
You can make up your own mind who is a real Republican.
As far as any other candidate being a true Republican, I can list all the names, dates of attendance, and can find out who has paid thier dues and fair fees this year. I'll be happy to type them out in a separate post.
Here are the candidates and incumbants attendance for BCRP meetings:
Commissioners by District
1 Nevins - absent all 2008
2 Bennett - present at 4-21 absent all other meetings
Lutz - absent all 2008
Bremer - absent all 2008
Reed - present all since 2004
3 Ferris - absent except 5/19
Lyons - absent all 2008
4 Gibson - absent all 2008
Straley - present meetings 4-21. 5-19, 6-16
5 Callton - present all except 6-19 due to school board meeting
6 Tripp - absent all 2008
Stolsonburg - present 4-21 absent all other meetings
7 VanNortwick - present all except 5/19 due to Charlton Park Meeting
Boles - absent all 2008
8 Robinson - absent all 2008
Alden - absent all 2008
Houtman - present 6-16 absent all other meetings
OTHER CANDIDATES AND INCUMBENTS
Clerk
Smith - present all 2008
Whitney - present 6-16 absent all other meetings
Jarvis - present 5-19 and 6-16 absent all other meetings
Drain Comm.
Kelly - absent all 2008
Yarger - present 5-19 absent all other meetings
Allerding - absent all 2008
McKelvey - absent all 2008
Englerth - present all meetings
Doster - present 6-16 absent all other meetings
Pros. Att.
Evans - present all meetings
Selleck - present 5-19 and 6-16 absent all other meetings
Reg. of Deeds
Burghdoff - present 6-16 absent all other meetings
Burns - absent all meetings 2008
Sheriff
Leaf - present 5-19 absent 6-16 due to conflict with board meeting
Sarver - present 6-16 absent all other meetings
Surveyor
Reynolds - absent 5-19 due to Charlton Park meeting present all other meetings
Treasurer
VandeCar - absent all 2008
The above information is correct as far as my notes. If someone wants to use this onformation please feel free but give me the credit for taking notes all these meetings. --Heather Reed
That was very helpful! Thank you very much. Anymore information like that would be appreciated.
Who CARES who's the best cheerleader with the biggest pom poms? That makes ZERO difference in how they will their jobs which is what we all should base our votes on!
There's nothing wrong with notes. There IS everything wrong with one candidate knowing the questions ahead of time. There IS everything wrong with a party chair rigging a debate and having an outburst when the moderator deviates from her carefully-constructed script.
And, because of Nystrom's suit Fred CANNOT bring up the 911 issue without being tackled by his lawyers so he had to wait for an audience member to ask it. The question was submitted but was vetoed by the Committee To Protect Dar Leaf.
Are there debates where the public can ask questions? I have just walked up to the campaigners and asked them (if I see them out and about) I know I have seen Dar out at many functions, could he not be asked then? I am rather new at all this well crap. In the past I would basically close my eyes and pick. I do not have time to attend several meetings to follow every prospect and see how they vote, what their attendance is, or their exact rolls within their duties. I believe if you are going to join or ask to be a part of something then do it. Otherwise you are taking the glory with none of the work. If you want to be a cheerleader you better show up for practice.
Add my name to the list of folks who don't bother attending BCGOP meetings (always absent). Also, add my name to the list of people too young to attend movies with Democrats (always absent).
Bebe,
I will be throwing my hat in the ring in two years, as a Democrat. Here is my agenda:
April;
Return from Costa Rica.
Get on the ballot (Sheriff/Prosecutor/Drain Commissioner/Judge/County Commissioner, or any office where a Democrat is not running, or all of the above).
August;
Spend almost nothing on a campaign.
Win primary for Democrats.
Aug.-Oct.
Force Republican to spend money campaigning.
November;
Win the election to prove that Democrats still have the right to vote.
November 15;
Return to Costa Rica for six months.
Jan2011-Jan2013;
Make no bad decisions, cast no bad votes, collect no per diem, communicate strictly by e-mail and blog, accuse nobody of any crimes, hire none of my friends to do any work, reduce health care costs by having work done outside the USA, change nothing, insist on things being done the way we have always done them, accept a small increase in salary, read nothing, listen to nobody, re-use materials from prior years (Budgets, slush fund lists, committee assignments, etc.)and have the County Clerk register all of my votes along with the majority opinions of the rest of the Commissioners. If the Office is that of Sheriff, I will advocate for a fancier office, a larger jail and shinier boots. If the job is that of Prosecutor, I will assign all actual work to people with law degrees. If Drain Commissioner, I will avoid all meetings with local people to avoid controversy. If County Clerk or Register of Deeds, I will lock the office door.
That's my platform and I hope I will get your absentee vote in 2010!
By the way, has the subject of a new jail been intentionally ignored or was that a "comment deleted"?
I have always been a presentee voter, however for you I will open my eyes when marking X by your name!
You do not have to attend a metting to be a Republican. And from what I have heard about those meetings I wouldn't want to vote for ANYONE who had perfect attendance. I also believe that you don't have to attend church to be religious.
Everyone use to complain about The Good Ole Boys Club....it's still alive and well it just has new boys in charge (Dar, Mark, Tom, and their followers).
The comment about the Sheriff being in bed with my wife was just juvenile and inappropriate. Dar thinks he is so funny.
I really think that Police Chiefs, Prosecutors, Sheriffs, etc should be nonpartisan positions as they are not there to make laws but enforce them. I don't care if Sarver is a RINO....he is still MUCH more educated and has much more experience than Dar.
I once knew a man who had 10 degrees, and spoke 8 languages,he did not work one day, is he qualified? Degrees are not everything. If that was true Sarver is clearly overqualified. It does not bother me he is Republican, but clearly he joined the party for the APPEARANCE of belonging. That I have a problem with. I would have more respect if he just ran Republican and save the money he spent on the dues. In a way it is a deceitful act. DO not say you are a member if you do not plan on being a member.
You can be a Republican WITHOUT joining the local cult. Just because you join said cult does not make you deceitful.
I know MANY people have been put off by the local Republican Party Meetings. It isn't exactly a warm and fuzzy group.
Sarver also explained his position at the debate.
I think you are making a mountain out of a mole hill. That group thinks too highly of themselves.
and so Sarver joined why?
LBDM is correct. Education does not make a person qualified. Education is a part of the total picture. When you combine a person's education with their experience, you get a picture of the ability of the person.
I can't and won't speak for Sarver. I will say that I can understand why he would join BCRP. The biggest reason is so that he and his campaign materials can be in the BCRP fair booth. I have talked with numerous people that have attended a BCRP meeting only to be ignored. They also saw the writing on the wall that it was a group with an agenda other than the good of the Republican Party. Many Barry County Repulicans have been turned off by their actions. Many believe that the BCRP has dumbed down the organization and our county as a whole.
Sorry Overwhelmed -- I wouldn't trust any answer that Darling Barney gave. He has lied to way too many people.
You all base your thoughs about the meetings, agendas, and such from what you hear from others then you have no right to complain... Come to a meeting we'd welcome you even if you get pissed off and leave in the middle of a discussion...
Any jail where non-violent humans are stored should be referred to as a warehouse or concentration camp. Like GTMO, for example.
While I have to agree with the false logic that earning educational degrees does not prove experience or competence, it follows from the same method that the lack of education speaks for itself.
Every grade I ever got, good or bad, I earned. I at least showed up for work.
When elected, I will reverse this bad habit, and promise to make no errors, unless cashing my check that I did nothing for qualifies.
Questions that should be asked of the County Commissioners and DARling barney.
1. During these very financially hard times, why has so much taxpayers money been authorized by callton, engleth and ferris (jail oversight committee) for a jail study and unnecessary jail junkets? Not one inspection by the Michigan Department of Corrections since DARling barney been in office has indicated or identified a major problem with our jail. Every county surrounding Barry county have on file indepth jail studies.
Ask the sheriff's of the surrounding counties what their opinions are of our DARling barney. Cold or non-exsitent at best and it is embarrassing.
2. How did DARling barney, callton, engleth and ferris (jail over-sight committee) convince and persuade the county commissioners to purchase a $300,000.00 records management system for the department. Going in the vendor told them up-front it isn't and won't be compatible with other barry county police agencies, the courts, prosecutors office or the 911 systems? As of last friday, not one authorizing signature of any county commissioners is on the purchase voucher filed at the clerks office.
The records management system has been in house for two months and it is still not working properly and DARling barney has no comprehension or understanding on how it is suppose to work. Really none of us do and the system has created more work and is waisting lots of paper so far. It would have been nice if the people who have to use the system everyday could have given their impute into this very expensive system.
Hope we can get answers to these questions. The many other questions that were asked two months ago still haven't been addressed publicly. Like what ever happened to the jails lunch money, or who authorized DARling barney to drive his family around in the county car, burning the people's fuel; or why engleth company got a "no bid" construction job at the jail; or why did DARling barney and engleth hire a unlicensed electrician to do work at the jail; or why was the jails janitor authorized to do work on engleth company vehicle at the jail on county time etc.
Is it the lack of leadership and inept management that continues to dumb down our department and our county. Or could it be DARling barney, callton, engleth and ferris just don't care and just don't comprehend how much it is costing the taxpayers?
ts,
Absolutely not!
Since I will not be attending any meetings, I will not be filing any expense reports or requesting any per diems. Those are two of my strongest planks in my platform.
Another strong plank will be that no investigations of wrongdoing will be needed. Since I will be doing nothing, doing wrong things is not possible by definition.
You know, I'm starting to look pretty good, already!
Perhaps I have set my sights too low. How much are they paying Condoleasing Rights? Maybe I could just fly around and not insult anybody. Better yet, maybe I could just get a free ride to CR and stay home and shut up.
Hopper: You didn't mention anything about what you are going to do with the royalties you make on your memoirs and the honoraria realized from your speeches. I'm confident you will donate them to some worthy cause.
Good luck to you on your campaign, with that platform I'm sure you will mow down any opposition that rears it's ugly head.
Barry County as a whole allows various employees to use the vehicles and take them home. I hate to burst your bubble but the detectives you speak off are considered to be on call, are salaried paid, and may be called on duty at 1 am, or 4 am, or 6 am, no matter what time or how many hours they have already worked, same goes for the sheriff, he is salaried, and on call 24/7.
I am not sure about the status of the 911 director, but like alot of misinformation you and your cronies have posted I am sure the director is not on call, salaried paid 24/7.
I too feel bad that Tax Payer money is spent. Just I feel bad that Nystrom caused it to happen. He accepted a nicely padded payoff, turned around and sued, he misuses monies, takes money and uses money.
More than likely the Sheriff could not speak of 911 at the debate for the same reason Fred Jacobs could not speak or ask of 911.
I do believe this question of vehicles and time by detectives was discussed prior, with same answer THEY ARE SALARY and ON CALL
Another plank (a bit like kindling, actually) is that I will not be using a county (or State, or Federal)vehicle while in Costa Rica, nor will I be using a county gas card since I don't use a private vehicle while there.
I have just purchased my round-trip airfare. (Nov.11 - Apr.14; $403.02 including taxes, etc. and one checked bag.)
Due to a screw-up on my part, I paid about half that much for a bus ticket from Ft. Lauderdale.
You may thank me (and Mr. Murphy)for putting in motion a drastic decline in fuel prices and rapidly falling air fares, until after the election. Kindly remember how much I saved you when it is time to vote in 2010.
Dad and I asked the local cops at the TK if they have a new computer system and they just shook their heads. They said they did and said it was needed, but it doesn't work with all the other cops or the courts and the sheriff just wanted his own and yet he doesn't know how it works. they said the sheriff, barney as you call him, has said the other cops could buy the same kind if they want it to work with his computer. we wonder why the county commissioners would allow the sheriff to spend so much of our money on a computer that doesn't work together. it does not make much sense and seems to be a waste of the taxpayers money to. how can anyone spend 300,000 on a computer that does work with all police or the 911?
could it be why so many commissioners are not running again because the head of the republican party, calton or engleth or the sheriff or tom evens the prosecutor are ahead of it? we have seen signs in a lot of people yards that used to support them and now they have changed because they must want them to be replaced. maaybe they want the dumbing down of our county and all the stupid and useless spending to stop.
I am EXTREMLY dissapointed in the RINO's who showed up for the Dem's Debate.
I can't write more or I'll type something I shouldn't
Why would any true Republican show up to a Democrat Party sponsored debate? Why would any true Republican show up to a Democrat sponsored debate designed to exclude one candidate? These Rino's have shown their true colors. The answer is a True Republican wouldn't!
Why are Republicans participating in a Democrat Party sponsored debate? Don't we have our own? It shows a complete lack of character in those that showed up. The Tuesday time and date were selected to exclude Mark Englerth. Are the other candidates so weak they need an advantage, or do they lack integrity?
The Democrats are not the friends of Republicans. The Republicans are sponsoring debates for the Republican candidates, wich it now appears there is only one true Republican candidate running for Drain Commissioner.
Wow, but not sorry I showed. I considered it a warmup/preview for July 10th.
I think the most dissapointed person was Mark Doster, he was ready and loaded for Englerth. I didn't realize that McKelvey was still carrying a grudge over being passed over for the position when Schaffer retired. Kelly & Allerding really had no clue about the office. They should have run for commissioner or something more representative instead of administrative.
Clue to Rep party...do not put Doster and Anger next to each other.
Mark E. did the RIGHT thing by continuing to DO HIS JOB as a county commissioner last night and not to shirk his duties or his PARTY by going to the Dem's debate.
Those who showed up showed how much they value to local party and why they should NOT be elected.
Oh and TS just cause YOU scripted the information at your COUP of the Rep party does not mean we would stoop to your level and script any debate...ask the candidates they did not have any knowledge of the questions untill they were asked.
Over whelmed - you and darling barney must be relatives. when you where a reporter for the banner, it is fact that everything you so called reported was copied from our police reports from our office and then printed in the paper. Like you, Darling barney's so called news releases are copied from the sheriffs association handouts. The only thing that is ever changed is that barney attempts to take ownership by putting his name on them, implying he is the originator.
Without having the answers to the debate questions written down, DARling barney would have been lost. Look what happened in the middle of the debate last week with Jerry Sarver. They asked a question out of order and DARling barney because lost and very befuddled. Ooops they skipped question 5 on his cheat sheet and went directly to question 6. TIME OUT, lets take a break to regroup. Explain to the public what exactly happened. Was DARling barney given the questions prior to the debate? If he wasn't, how did he have all of his so called answers written down in order? Why was DARling barney so mixed up when they skipped a question? Then why the time-out?
We don't need swattish copy-cats in important county offices, we need true and proven administrators who have more than black belt or tax dodger mentaliies. We deserve leaders who have experience, education and knowledge, coupled with integrity. The dumbing down of our county must stop and the bums must be replaced. Kinda like you were replaced by david t.
Bulwark
I do not want to stoop to your level so I will not insult you, why do you have to insult me? Did I ever hurt you personally? I did my job. It sounds to me like GS McNeil is not the only one who has sour gapes.
You all wouldn't know the TRUTH if it bit you on the ass.
In case you didnt know OW, telling Bul that he wouldnt know the TRUTH if it bit him in the ass, is an insult so either your stooped or you were already there
Bulwark,
You are making unfounded accusations. At no time were question provided to either candidate. You have questioned Vivian's integrity without any proof. In fact if you can show proof that Dar had knowledge of the questions before the debate I will kiss you bare backside while hanging upside down in a clown suit in front of the Courthouse.
Fred Jacobs was invited to be Moderator and was to ask the questions in the order the Hosts of the debate wanted. But, it turned into the "Fred Jacobs Show". He changed the format, changed the order of the questions, and asked inappropriate questions. He came very close to being uninvited to future debates.
BTW did anyone else see that Animal Control has endorsed Russ Yarger? I thought it was illegal for Government bodies to endorse Political Candidates?
last boy - again the simple questions weren't answered. just more diversion and smoke and mirrors. why do you and ow keep blameing Fred when he was just the moderator. Could it be that taking the questions out of order totally confused barney. It appear so, but it doesn't take much.
The animal control people understand what really happened there. No leadership and lots of denial by the people in charge, Darling barney and engleth
IF anyone is a puppetmaster in this county it's FRED JACOBS!!!
I worked for the man, He and David pulled strings around this county like you would never believe...
I am a Certified Animal COntrol Officer and I KNOW that the sanitation was lacking in BC animal control...Sarver had that question NAILED and I gave him credit for it to his face.
AND btw Darkside...I included ALL of you in that statement... and learn to spell stupid!!
ok well....... Yo mama...finally made it out!
Overwhelmed - why is it that when DARling barney asked for volunteers here at the S O and you volunteered, DARling barney personally turned you down because he didn't want you hanging around here. He didn't have the courage to tell you that, he just ordered the undersheriff tell you. Now you continue to be his puppet on that republican party, defending the trio plus; DARling barney, evans and engleth every move. We think you are better than that, why don't you? They are using you and you don't even comprehend it. You work hard for the cause, but they laugh at you behind your back, why ? You and the public deserve much better !! Your public service and integrity is heads and shoulders above the trio's.
Bul maybe someday people will see barney for what he really is. She is not the only one who had been told one thing to her face and quite the opposite behind her back. A snake I tell you!
Bulwark,
thanks for the insults and compliments I think...
I was (told I was) turned down due to a 24 hour suspension of my drivers license because of an outstanding ticket I was fighting...
You have given me something to think about because now that I am a certified ACO, I still can't get a job...
I don't defend anyone who does not deserve it in my eyes...guess my eyes need to be opened every once in a while...I guess I'm just tired of being kicked around.
Thanks for the information... I'm going off to cry in the corner now.
OW - keep up the good work, you've earned the public's respect with all your volunteer work.
You are not along, the trio plus of DARling barney, evans, engleth plus, gang up and trash anyone who doesn't agree exactly with them.
Not to their face, but behind their backs. They talk out of both sides of their mouth, spewing negative innuendos and hurtful garbage at other human beings expense.
Control, jealousy, manipulation and selfishness is their game plan. It appears they have selectively left out accountability to the taxpayers and integrity.
We've had to live with it the last three and a half years and it has been very humiliating and not easy to do our jobs.
Keep focusing on whats right for all the people and you'll receive your rewards in the end.
911
911...is that the number of lies TS has told in one blog?
bebe and your sister dm: ill will and negative gossip has always been your forte as long as you worked at the dispatch center and the many years at the jail. It is apparant it has continued into your retirement. Did your momma teach you nothing ? How dare you, we all know you and codered like a book. da triplets of hate and discontent!!!!! simply a flaw and poor UP-bringing. You can't help it....... we'll have to put you on that pray chair you preach about.
oh my, bul may have hit a nerve with that one! Right on the money my crystal ball tells me. DM=queen of gossip
Am I mistaken or does not Barry County have insurance coverage that includes lawsuits brought against them? If they do have this coverage then the county's actual liability might not be nearly as large as TS seems to imply.
I swear to tell the truth, the truth, and nothing but the truth, so help us all!
911
The County has a contract for Legal services. It is covered.
As far as my "sister" goes, and my work at 911 or the jail. I have never been employed. Sorry. Why does who I am bother you so. Is it because I know things and you can not go after me?
My little crystal ball tells me that Sarver will run, try to win, and bring Deboer back in as Undersheriff, and then soon retire and ANNOINT Deboer back in. hmmmmmmmm chew on that one
TS,
I don't recall that position. Your information is correct however rambling.
As I explained, somewhere, about the Englerth delayed tax payment business strategy, the County Commission is also putting off the cash flow problem for as long as possible. It isn't illegal, wrong, or unethical. It is strictly a business strategy.
As long as there is a possibility of negotiation to save the taxpayers some pain, the strategy has some merit.
The backlog of civil cases in Costa Rica is about four years long. A case as complex as this would not be settled until long after hell had turned to ice. That explains why so many problems get settled face-to-face.
The 911 Board approved all the payments. At some point, somebody must have noticed the item on the monthly reports and questioned it. If the board had a problem with the decisions of the Director, it could have been resolved with a simple vote to replace the Director. Board work is not rocket science.
I studied enough law to understand what "billable time" means.
Are you still with us, maude?
I am still here and I still disagree with your way of thinking most of the time. But, I wish you a happy 4th of July!
I'm with you Maude...I'm staying out of it. I've been crying in the corner since friday...
BTW If anyone cares we're going on vacation so I'll see you all at the debate July 10..I'll be the chick in the ORANGE t-shirt.
el bebe - dad said you don't make much sense and the people at TK agree. why would the commissioners just open the counties check book for the contract legal services to spend as they please. by now the billable time must be costing the taxpayers more money than the case is worth. on may 11 the eaton county court ruled against the prosecutor,sheriff and paper, saying they weren't covered. it seems the people up here are feed up with them for spending the taxpayers money to defend elected officials who didn't make very smart decisions. what's more, the locals said there are alot of other law suits that have been filed against that sheriff, more money spent.
talking to our local police, some other county cops and state police they don't have a whole lot good to say about our county management people either. our guys need more support and they don't have it in barney as you call him. a couple even said they dont feel good about comming to work half the time. lots of people who wanted him in, now want him out. our relatives in the southeast corner agree to. look at the people who have switched over to savers. time will tell, but we hope the endless spending stopps.
I dont make much.....I am sure if you were quoting me verbatum that it did not make any sense. Where did I say they open their check book to spend as they please? You work for the national enquirer? I SAID it is contracted out, go read your minutes some more, you certainly missed a great of factual information. A big surprise that will be to everyone I am sure.
le bebe i can't type any slower than i did, but that is what you said. just because the county has legal services doesn't mean the taxpayers agree to dump our money down a bottomless pit because the so called trio plus of callton, ferris, darling barney, evans and engleth think we should. it is senseless, maybe because of no leadership on there part. dad and i heard today from a old county official that callton has told alot of people the county will settle that case after the primary in august so that barney and evans won't get bad press before the primary. our question is why in the world would you keep dumping endless money into a bottomless pit for what you call legal services? it just doesn't make much sense. why do the people of our county have to pay for evans and darling barneys wrong doings?
OW...I'll try to catch you on the 10th before the festivities start. Finally had someone clue me in as to your real world identity.
Happy 4th everyone...There is a patriotic band concert tonight at 7:30 at the Fish Hatchery Park. Barring uber moquitos, it should be good.
Refreshing to hear from you again, maude. I learn far more from people I don't agree with.
Unless you want to stay with topics about 911, etc., perhaps we can discuss what it is that you feel strongly about on a more interesting blog. If what you disagree with is my various comments about 911, I hope that you realize that I lost interest in that as a serious topic at some time last year, or perhaps longer ago than that.
I did have a short conversation with Dar Leaf the other day, and mentioned that many of his faithful followers were putting their yard signs out in the right-of-way areas (a law that is supposed to be enforced for public safety). His response was that if a person mows the grass they have a right to put the sign out there by the road.
In 2010, when I run for office as a Democrat, I will encourage people to mow all the way to the shoulder and put my signs where people have to drive out in the road to see past them. That way I'll get lots of attention.
One thing Dar, Tom, and Mark have in common is the ability to choose the wrong words.
My English isn't much better than my Spanish, but some of the writing on this blog could use some motherly editing.
el grillo - DARling barney demands that we respect him because HE's the sheriff. YET DARling barney doesn't earn it when he "turns his head" when HE breaks or malnipulates the laws or county policy to fit his needs or whims. Simple things like political signs placed in the right of way; his frivilous law suit against the county; driving his family to Walmart, Applebee's, school in the county car; jail junkets etc. are just a tip of the iceburg. As a deputy he wanted so many entitlements, but now HE's the sheriff and the rules have changed. It's been tough working here, but hopefully the majority will see the need for change come
August 5th. We desperately need strong administrative leadership with integrity, something that has gone dormant under the trio plus watch.
TS,
Your idea that the city police would show favoritism toward the election of Evan/Leaf/Englerth has some merit.
Do you suppose that they want Chief Sarver to lose so they can keep him for themselves?
Bulwark: If things are so bad, why are the men and women of the department so quiet about it? According to the GR Press the Kent deputies voted and said they have no confidence in their sheriff. Some of your coworkers weren't so quiet in the last election. Aren't you protected by a union?
maude - sometimes "silence is golden", as el grillo and ts imply, DARling barney is imploding by just opening his mouth and his unskilled lack of leadership
Bulwark: Maybe you are right - but unfortunately a lot of people think the stories are just rumor. They can't believe that he is that stupid. I agree that he will selfdestruct. Hopefully, before we are all losers.
TS, said;
"I attempted to find where mowing the grass allows for this.
I could not find anything that was close except when one maintains property that after a point in time you can make a claim for it."
That might have some merit with your side yard, or the back forty, but when it comes to the right of way out by the road, you can mow till your blade falls off and it will still be the right of way. It isn't a matter of property rights, it is a matter of public safety.
truth, what are you gonna do if Dar and Tom loose?
If (as claimed) this blog has any significance, it would be refreshing to read some first-hand responses from actual candidates for (on this thread) Sheriff.
He said, she said, games are fun and cute, but maybe before August we can actually get some "whole truth".
If Sheriff Leaf is forced to defend his positions in detail (which blogging allows you to do without just shooting from the hip which dominates the old-fashioned Commission on the Aged Town Hall confined chats), perhaps we could sift through the chaff by ourselves, ask for clarification, and perhaps the best person might emerge victorious.
On the other hand (as I have stated before) it is more likely that very few candidates (or voters) actually read our ranting.
TS - you have forgotten the worker bee's - the road patrol who have worked their butts off with literally no support from our so called leader DARling barney. It has been so embarrassing and humiliating. He didn't do anything positive as a deputy and is doing even less as THE SHERIFF. Barry county is the laughting stock of the state, particually when other sheriffs departments ask "hows barney doin up there in barry county" We too hope this will pass. They even ask how 0-14 goober is doing. We can only assume that means our lifeless prosecutor because of his 0 win and 14 lost court record. We hope August 5th brings us some relief, please help.
bull,
It is strange that other Sheriff Departments would have to ask about our department. Are they so out of touch that they don't realize that our politics are dominated by hard-line gun advocates? Dar & Co. are only the front men.
It is a bit like thinking that McCain actually dares to disagree with the Republican Party leadership that is paying for the national campaign. Do you actually believe that puppets pull their own strings?
Barry County is a dangerous place to live.
ts,
Budgeting is not that simple. It is probably true that an overfunded department will often need to receive less in the future to provide the limited funds to a more needy cause (like rehabilitating non-violent offenders, etc).
The County is different than a business or a City. It has a great diversity of social responsibilities that are very complex. I have been told that 60% of our County tax money is spent on about 5% of our population (social programs, incarceration, etc)
My past connection highlighted another aspect of underspending. Since each department is expected to provide services of some kind, it is important to look closely at the actual performance of the department to see if all of the promises were kept, if all of those who needed help received it, and if all the cracks were filled to keep folks from falling through them.
The easiest way to be under budget is to fail to provide services. The cheapest services are the ones you don't get.
DARling barney spouts off about having a $350,000 budget surplus. It's all smoke and mirrors and darn right untrue. Remember DARling barney also said "its not the sheriffs responsibility to protect the public" dumb, dumb and dumber, aka the trio plus, must hit the road
Tutu,
If we are going to discuss anything involving budgeting, we will have to bring into play the "Special Revenue" Funds which include an alphabet soup of law enforcement slush funds and earmarked accounts. I wonder if the non-smoking ban includes smoke and mirrors on the County Campus?
el grillo: So you too have a pet peeve. You have special revenue funds and TS has 911. I am glad to know that you are human.
Actually, maude, the "Special Revenue Fund" part of the budget is what 911 and I have in common. You won't find Central Dispatch in the "Generous Fund" budget.
I probably make as many mistakes in one day as you make in a week.
callton, engleth, and ferris have given DARling barney unconstrained and unsupervised power over the taxpayers check book.
Open your eyes people, look at what has happened in the last three and a half years of DARling barneys blackbelt leadership. extraordinary number of expensive law suits, several diasters at the animal shelter, purchase of several gas guzzling swat cars, purchase of swat weapons for every officers and some of barneys cronies, unauthorized work on commissioners vehicles on county time, no bid contracts to engleth's family company, a very expensive and worthless jail study that included jail junkets, driving his family around in the county owned vehicle to walmart, school and applebees and burning up expensive county fuel, purchase of a $300,000.00, unsigned voucher for a computer soft-ware program that doesn't work with any other public safety agency in our county etc etc etc.
Now DARling barney is pulling the wool over the taxpayers eyes by saying in his campaigne ad that he "alone" has saved the public money.
If black belt barney really saved the county $350,000 dollars, look what he could have and should have saved the taxpayers before his extravagant,senseless, swattish and wastful spending !!!!
Like DARling barney's public statement about protecting the public.. he said "it isn't my responsibility to protect the public". Now he'll probably make another profound statement or news release that might go something like: "the commissioners didn't question me or say I couldn't, so I spent the taxpayers money on what I wanted because I am the sheriff and I don't know the difference between need / necessary and my impulsive wish list. Heck I even forgot to communicate with my employees, but the posey liked the stuff".
We have carefully thought it through, our reality wish list doesn't include any of the trio plus or their senseless spending of the taxpayers money.
I repeat, that even if pounding on the nail that has been driven home had any potential of convincing your entire audience on this blog to not vote for "the trio", it wouldn't amount to spit.
el grillo - you are possibly right. Your observation and wisdom is appreciated. because our local news media have selectively chosen to not report callton, ferris, engleth, leafs, debbie smith and evans murky track record, the taxpayers and county employees pay through the nose.
Their record speak volumes. The six of them are specialists in blame, excuses, denial, diversion, distortion of facts, failing to take management responsibility for their departments actions, and degrading of opponents or anyone else who dare to question them.
We suspect that is why you
dubbed them the "trio plus" long ago. It is obvious why they have taken charge of the republican party for our county. Their energy and self-serving motives are all about control and power and has nothing to do with service or support for our taxpayers or dedicated county employees.
several citizens and county employees have asked legitimate questions. look what has happened; the person got verbally chastized and degraded and the questions were buried and ignorned by your trio plus.
you are right, the people must live with whoever receives the majority of the republican vote here in our county. garbage in, garbage out. for our taxpayers and our county employee's sake, we hope it's garbage OUT this year.
I am tired and going to bed. No more questions or comments this election year from me. been buried, trashed and ignored to many enough. Go Blue
bulwork - don't sleep through the rest of the election, you have raised to many questions that should be answered.
dad and I walked by the republican booth at the fair. one night we talked with sheriff leaf and two nights later we talk with chief sarver. there is no comparison. like dad said, chief sarver carried on a positive conversation and leaf had trouble putting two sentences together that made any sense and just talked negative and in circles. he even admitted that we don't need a jail right now, but it could make money if we kept other counties prisoners. dad asked him why our county has so many fancy gas guzzleing cop cars and he said the deputies wanted them. that didn't make alot of sense to us. we should have asked him why his department isn't responsibile for taxpayers protection, but we didn't. we took two more of sarvers signs to post because he seems to know what he is talking about and was very positive, not saying one thing negative about his opponent.
PWIITWO: I totally agree with you. Chief Sarver doesn't need to talk negative. DARling Barney talking is the best campaign help that Sarver could have. The important thing is for Sarver supporters to educate other voters. Then the Sarver supporters have to vote!
BULLWARK: The people need to know the truth, don't go silent.
I for one will be so glad when the election is over. Our beautiful county is plastered with unattractive signs. No one can enjoy the beauty that is covered up. It will be interesting to see which candidates clean up their signs in a timely manner.
What's wrong everyone? No comments about the Commissioner Debate?
everyone must be sleeping...
If you think snoring is the favored local sport, how about the news article that the industrial incubator is being sold for $10,000.
If that is true (assuming that the "whole" truth is in the Banner), then I expect that my home is valued at 5% of its prior value, and I should get a rebate on my property taxes.
Actually, we are waiting for July 25, when PolWatcher will re-visit this site and put up the post - "That's Debatable-County Bored Edition". Then, all 37 of us will weigh in.
I send my money down a rat hole everytime I go in my living room or kitchen...but then again my rats eat my money and I love all 17 of them....LOLOL
Keep your doors tightly closed this fall. I understand that rats desert sinking ships. I'm keeping my flight number secret.(As if it isn't already in the Homeland Security database.)
Absolutely OUTRAGEOUS!
An embarrassment to Hastings, Barry County, Michigan, the USA, the "West", all Christianity, Muslim, Hindi, Buddists, and humanity in general.
Undisputable proof that Neanderthals existed side-by-side with humans, and are not yet extinct.
"Love God with all your heart, mind and soul, and burn my cross in your neighbor's front yard", Anonymous.
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