There’s a new sheriff in town, and his name is Gino “Gino Rock” Brantley. Evidently Hades did indeed freeze over. Congratulations to Brantley and his team.
When people didn’t think Brantley had a chance, that’s when his strongest believers dug in and went to work.
Bo Johnson, also a past candidate for the sheriff’s position, not only publicly stated his endorsement for Brantley but also went to work making public appearances and speaking on behalf of Brantley. Karen Johnson also worked hard keeping the event’s happenings on public media.
Talk about team players; Bo and Karen Johnson certainly are. They want to see change for the better.
Niya Brantley worked tirelessly on behalf of her husband, making sure his spirit was always bright, never letting him feel that he was running a race alone and keeping him focused and confident. Now Ms Brantley can take a deep breath and a short break. Then the real work begins on day one in the new Sheriff’s Office.
I marvel at how people who have a common goal can come together and put personal egos aside for the common good. This sheriff’s race should be a prime example of exactly that happening with two opponents coming together for the good of the community. Respect for each other I believe has grown into a genuine friendship and working relationship; let’s see where this union will lead.
Let’s also not forget that Richard Dixon wasted no time in closing down his independent run for sheriff and proudly proclaimed Gino Rock as Sheriff-Elect.
This past commission meeting offered no surprises. The meeting contained the same old switch and bait maneuvers designed to dodge, misdirect, hide and cover up issues. It is really amazing to watch some of the commissioners, department directors and the interim administrator go into self protection mode.
The procurement for the parks and recreation department audit has been a wonder to behold.
First, the procurement department put their chosen choice on the commission’s agenda for a vote. Oh NO, wait! They found one that was attempted to be delivered before the office opened and It was redelivered later.
Therefore, the office received it past the deadline, but at no fault of the bidder.
The bid was not scored for consideration, it was misplaced until someone came across it just in time to save the taxpayers of Augusta over $70,000 the department stated. So, they pulled the first chosen and recommended bid and replaced it with the late and less costly bid.
Well, that would all be nice if it were for the right reasons.
When the commission voted to direct the procurement director to seek bids for the audit, it appeared to many that at last an audit was going to be performed. If you remember I stated that this was not a done deal.
I believe that more things will come up to cloud the issue until it goes away. Alas, that is certainly what appears to have been happening.
Yes, the audit bid being pushed by the procurement director, interim administrator and, seemingly, the finance director is the less costly bid, but it is also less intensive.
Half the price, half the work hours and no one from the bidder’s office will be on site in Augusta to perform any of the audit work. It will all be done by sending the documents to be audited over the internet. That’s correct, by computer.
To be sure only what are called “clean” documents will be sent. Again, guess what that will assure: an audit that shows nothing wrong. Remember, just like the ex-mayor’s office audit.
At this past commission meeting, the commissioners voted to deny the substituted bid. Glee could be felt by several in the chambers. The commissioners were told the bid process had ended, and they would have to start the process over.
Really? Guess what that would ensure? The same bid would again be received and again be pushed. No thanks.
I have spoken to other city administrators and managers. I was told that if the commission did not vote to deny all bids that another of the bids submitted that met all of the procurement requirements could be brought forward and voted on.
Is the process for Augusta any different? Then, that should have also happened when a candidate for the administrator’s position was not approved. It didn’t. The Gang of Five are still holding out for their preferred choice and still do not want an audit to happen. What are they so afraid of? What are the department directors afraid of?
What was also very telling was the fact that when Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle asked to see the time stamp of the presented bid that is in question, he was told no by Geri Sams, the procurement director. She babbled some nonsense as to how it would violate the procurement process. Really? A time stamp on the outside of the package and not the documents on the inside ? Come on now.
The Fulton Fish Market in New York City doesn’t even begin to smell that fishy and it smells pretty dang fishy.
Here is another tidbit I learned while talking to other city officials: They receive bids via the computer system. They have a program that receives the bids and time stamps them. Now that is using the computer system correctly, and it is not the way Augusta wants to send clean documents to an auditor via the computer.
The claim could be made that Augusta is not the only city that is having these problems, and that would be correct. Other cities are having their mayors and elected officials investigated by the FBI.
Dolton, Ill. Mayor Tiffany Henyard is being investigated by the FBI for corruption at the request of the city trustees. In fact, that situation is so bad that the trustees voted to have the ex-Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot investigate the city’s financial statements.
I wonder how that one is going to work out.
A few district attorneys have been in hot water over their personal agendas. A couple have even received prison time for their misuse of funds. One received $15 million dollars in illegally gotten Covid relief funds.
I guess that new Mercedes gave her away. She had to be stylin’ while tooling around Atlanta.
You just have to wonder how someone making $100,000 a year before taxes is living in a $5 million dollar house with two Lexus’ in the driveway; they must have a great financial planner.
Folks, as always, you just can’t make this stuff up.
