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Letters to the Editor

'Good ole boys,

gone bad'

By WINCY WALKER Jasper

If capable, I'd write a country/western song, "Good Ole Boys Gone Bad."

I laughed when reading about Ky Griffin's concern that David Schultz would be a body snatcher if given the job of death investigator for the county. Schulz … told the commissioners he would assist the Justices of the Peace for free because he needed training hours to receive national certification.

Precinct 1 Commissioner Charles Shofner and Precinct 2 Commissioner Roy Parker voted against. Why?

Parker said he called each JP … and the new ones said they needed the help (of a death investigator), "but I still think there is a conflict of interest. It just looks bad." When did Parker (or any other commissioner) become concerned about "conflict of interest" that "looks bad?"

While they concern themselves with body snatching, here's what really looks like "conflict of interest" that looks really bad: County Commissioners of Precincts 1, 2, 3, & 4 are paid an annual "travel allowance" of $15,000 each, plus 15.24% Employer Retirement Contribution. Why do commissioners get retirement benefits for "travel allowance?" Because they can; they give themselves whatever they want and we all know they want a lot! Spending $7.2 million after Rita proved that! It looks real bad! That's $69,144 per year for four commissioners and what each receives in allowance/benefits in a four year term; total of $276,576 every four years- in addition to their salaries. The county has ZERO to show for it. That borders on misuse of public funds! Can we assume they gas up at the county barns?

They should get bids on four "work trucks" with AC/heater and a radio that get good gas mileage; nothing fancy. Put a Jasper County insignia on the door. They get a new one at the beginning of a new term and the old truck goes to the county barn as was done in the past. For sure they should get rid of their travel allowances when they work on the 2008 budget. It's time for the commissioners to stop taking advantage of us poor, apathetic, ignorant Jasper County voters. It just looks bad.

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