City Employees Costing Us Money

We're sure there's not a city or town in the U.S. that doesn't have at least one employee who abuses his or her position. Here's another great article from Leslie M. Shoals on what's happening in one local town:

Rusty Wheeles knowingly has broken the law according to Mayor Bradford's statements in Times Daily.

What David Bradford didn't explain that would be nice to know is WHAT EXACTLY CONSTITUTES 21 DAYS OF A SUSPENSION?

Is this 21 WORKING DAYS - which is reasonable and logical. And, does he turn in the vehicle that he uses for work and PERSONAL use as well?

Does Wheeles pay for his golf games with his family and friends at Cypress Lakes, or is this yet another liberty a city employee thinks he deserves at the expense of the taxpayers?

Citizens of Muscle Shoals deserve to know the full details and Wheeles use of a city vehicle, period.

In all fairness, I have to point out that Rusty Wheeles is not the only city employee that is costing the taxpayers a lot of money using city vehicles as their own personal transportation.

Another Park & Rec employee has been seen on several occasions taking her child to a medical office in Sheffield, not only during the work day - but IN A PARK & RECREATION DEPARTMENT FORD TRUCK. In fact, there is such a culture of no rules and no accountability, that the employees have no shame as they drive vehicles with the city emblem on them as they travel through Muscle Shoals into Sheffield and with children in the vehicles as well.

IF there were an accident in a neighboring city with the employee on PERSONAL errands, how would the city insurance carrier respond to that? Far be it for there to be an accident resulting in a death. MSC taxpayers would be paying on that for a long time.

This must be the norm in this run-a-way government, Muscle Shoals Pandora Soaps.

A picture is worth a thousand words as the City Truck sits at the medical office for how long????

MAYOR - CITY COUNCIL  - exactly who are you serving? Do any of you have any experience in anything other than flying to all those out of state meetings you carry your families to? And, of course, that's at our cost too.

It's obvious none of you know how to govern.

IS THERE ANYONE IN MSC GOVERNMENT THAT HAS THE WEEBLES TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT?

From where I sit - I don't see that happening any time soon... All I see are Men without the important parts that define a male.

Leslie M. Shoals

*****

We have found only a short death notice for Theresa Milam. For those who have asked, here it is:

Theresa Ann Cunningham Milam, 57, died Sunday, April 9, 2017. Visitation will be noon-1 p.m. Saturday at Spry-Williams Funeral Home, Florence. The memorial service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home chapel. She was the wife of the late Gary William Milam.

Inspiration Landing/Ron Sparks

John Elkington has just announced that Sheffield's Inspiration Landing amphitheatre is on schedule to be completed by May 2018. This is good news; however, he will have to understand that many in the area have been skeptical of his project due to past let-downs. In the last seven to eight years, Sheffield has been promised at least three major projects (not counting pie in the sky DreamVision)...to see none of them materialize. It's easy to group Elkington in the same league as conman Bryan Robinson.

Let's keep our collective fingers crossed that things continue to progress.

*****

Ron Sparks

The Rural Development Office will soon be history in Alabama. It's director, Ron Sparks, one of the most idiotic politicians to disgrace our state since its inception, today took credit for initiating the "Baby Box" program and thus saving countless lives. Really, Ron? Wikipedia says the program was founded in Finland, and our disgraced former governor says it was his idea to implement it in Alabama.

No job, Ron? Perhaps you'll now have time to sign up for a class on how not to batter your wife?

Special: Muscle Shoals Rec Department

We're presenting two guest blogs from Leslie M. Shoals. The first was written before the suspension of the Parks & Recreations director and the second after:


NICE PUBLICLY FUNDED BATTING CAGE on 6th street near the railroad track thanks to the TAXPAYERS of MSC (as determined by Parks & Rec Director Rusty Wheeles.)

Problem - it's on private property and only for the use of the residents of the subdivision. We don't think the property owner would have been willing to go along with this kind of underhanded activity if he had known. But then again, when does a panhandler tell you he's selling you stolen merchandise?

THANKS to the HONEST insiders at MSC that spoke out on this - otherwise it would be another cover up and dirty little secret in the MSC pandora pond.

Insiders say the City Council and Mayor met on monday night in an executive session to ponder how to cover up the latest debacle. Afterwards, they determined in their minds a harsh and swift punishment for Parks & Rec Department Head, Rusty Wheeles would only be 21 days suspension without pay.

Maybe he can volunteer to pick up trash on the roadsides to pay the taxpayers back for his little pet project.

David Bradford, Allen Noles, Neal Willis, Mike Lockhart, Chris Hall, Ken Sockwell  -----  HOW MUCH are the taxpayers on the hook for the cost of the batting cage? How much did it cost US for the employees that were ordered to install the cage on private property?

City Council and Mayor have you heard you represent the taxpayers? You are no better than these employees that take liberties at our expense - which says a lot about YOUR CHARACTER - OR LACK THEREOF.

IT'S TIME TO PUT ALL OF YOU ON SUSPENSION - PERMANENT SUSPENSION.

The 2 new guys, Chris Hall and Ken Sockwell, have fit right in with the status quo - Cover up till the hardworking employees that DO want things done right happen to tell some of the faMily dirt, then, and only then, deal with the illegal activity by giving a little pat on the hand and wink wink.

It's not the first time. Why aren't employees fired for repetitive violations? Why have a civil service and rules when anything goes when you are part of the faMily.

MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT COUNCILMEN AND MAYOR - WE, THE TAXPAYERS DESERVE AN EXPLANATION.

YOU MEN ALL NEED TO BE ON SUSPENSION - PERMANENTLY.

TERM LIMITS!     YES - TERM LIMITS FOR CITY COUNCIL!

*****

http://www.timesdaily.com/news/local/recreation-director-suspended-days/article_3d30c16f-b808-5f7f-bd44-474a392b48f0.html

Times Daily reports:

"Bradford said he believes members of the city recreation board, a five-member advisory board appointed by the City Council, knew about the project, but it was not authorized by the City Council or himself."

According to the City website of the Council Organizational Meeting on November 7, 2016, the council members were appointed to the following "committees" (oversight, etc).

President Noles stated that the next item of business was the appointment of Council committees for the Council term of 2016-2020.

President Noles announced the following appointments: 

Police Department Committee Allen Noles, Chairman - Chris Hall - Neal Willis 

Fire Department Committee - Mike Lockhard - Chairman - Allen Noles - Neal Willis

Public Works Committee  Neal Willis, Chairman - Allen Noles - Ken Sockwell

Parks & Recreation Committee   Chris Hall, Chairman - Ken Sockwell - Mike Lockhard

 Administration Committee Ken Sockwell, Chairman - Chris Hall -  Mike Lockhard

One has to ask themselves - with 3 COUNCILMEN ON THE PARKS & REC COMMITTEE and 3 BEING A MAJORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL, WHO SHARES IN THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEBACLE?

Shouldn't the council be suspended for 21 meetings for their participation? 

What about the others on the Park & Rec Board? What is their punishment?

Rusty Wheeles - it appears you had some "partners in crime" that are letting you take the fall for the team.

Oh, wait - we are faMily.

WHO "RE-IMBURSED" THE CITY FOR THIS LATEST DEBACLE? Bet the developer took the hit on this one. Not surprised, he is a stand up kind of guy.

I'm a betting at this point, it ain't the end of the Muscle Shoals Soaps.

Stay tuned.

Leslie M. Shoals

Revisiting: Chris Martin Case/War of the Schools

You may have been seeing some interesting comments or Tweets recently about the Chris Martin manslaughter case. A friend of Chris' family has taken up the mantle of justice, and it should prove extremely interesting.

Chris Martin Case

We hope that Martin can soon be released on time served, but we're not betting the blog on it. While we're revisiting the case, we'll touch on something we have not delved deeply into before.

We mentioned at the time that Grant Campbell was a dishonorably discharged veteran with a very bad reputation. Since it had been only a short time since his death, we didn't emphasize his bad character, but perhaps now is an apt time for a life lesson.

We applaud those who stand by their friends; however, some people change to such a degree over the years that one could easily place one's self or family in danger by remaining friends. We feel that's what happened in Chris' case.

You can pray for your friend. You can visit your friend in jail. You can put money on your friend's books while they're in jail. What you shouldn't do is socialize especially when alcohol is in the mix. It cost Chris Martin his freedom, whether rightly so or not.

Due diligence? We've recently seen some comments stating the Florence School Board didn't do due diligence in deciding to tear down the old Coffee building or in contracting for a new school.

Just what would you have had them do that wasn't done? You complain about the cost, but it was your friends at UNA who directly caused two construction companies to withdraw their bids.

Let's make this clear: If the school board had attempted to “legally” condemn UNA property so the city could have purchased it, we would have sided with UNA. It's not about who the sides are; it's about the wisdom and legality of their views and actions.

We've been asked by someone we consider a friend if we think it was fair for Florence High band parents to receive money from concessions sold at UNA games. No we do not.

Perhaps there are band parents out there who could tell us the rationale for this?

Does Partial Power Corrupt Partially? See Muscle Shoals

We're told that absolute power corrupts absolutely; how about partial power? It's few individuals who aren't corrupted at least a little by their jobs. It's not just Gov. Bentley or a long list of other higher ups. It can be and often is the smaller players.

Here's a great read from Leslie M. Shoals:

According to people on the "inside", Sports as a top priority aren't limited to the faMily at MSCS. Insiders at MSC report:

MSC Parks & Rec director orderd (as MSC Parks & Rec Department) a batting cage for the use of families in his subdivision on 6th street. Parks & Rec employees installed the batting cage under his direction and orders. 

Rumors say 3 City Councilmen that serve on that Board are aware of the purchase, as well as the mayor. It is on private land at the permission of the developer, who we believe thinks the residents in the subdivision are paying for it. Obviously, the residents think they are "reimbursing" the Parks & Rec director for the batting cage - too bad they don't know they have already paid for it, as well as all the citizens of MS. if these reports are true.

IF these people are correct in their stories, what is going to be done about the abuse of taxpayers money? Are these councilmen covering up illegal activities? Will the Parks & Rec Director finally be relieved of his duties?

Now that little Joe is gone, there won't be anyone speaking out about the use and abuse of positions.

Councilmen - Are you going to limit your terms since you are limiting the citizens? 

Time you all take a walk - a long one. 

WHAT SAY YOU MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL?

 

Any truth to the "insiders" stories? You have some "splaining to do."

We can only hope there are a lot of insiders that have gotten this story wrong!!!!!!!!!

.

Leslie M. Shoals

*****

We had some sad news today about the mother of Dylan Milam. Theresa Milam passed away yesterday. We'll be posting arrangements later. Our sincerest sympathies to her family.

Special: Why It's Wrong for Law Enforcement to Negotiate with Bentley

We have only just finished a blog on facing legal consequences of criminal actions. Now we hear that Bentley is negotiating with law enforcement officials (we assume attorney general's office) about stepping down.

Make no mistake, it's the right thing for our governor to do; however, he should not be able to simply brush off the consequences of his criminal actions while in office. Granted, most of his suspect actions have been personal in nature, but many have actually been illegal.

Is is all right for him to have used taxpayer dollars for himself and his mistress? Is it kosher for him to have threatened employees? Is it cricket for him to have made up false legal claims against his political enemies (that one we can really identify with)? No, it isn't.

Unfortunately, at this point, we have little say in what happens tomorrow...


The Staff at Shoalanda Speaks

Saving Those Who Walk on the Wrong Side of the Law

The past few days we've been extremely surprised at those who don't blame Erica Fox for killing her husband, or at least those who say a murder trial will only hurt the victim's family more. We've been called some dirty names for "taking sides." We doubt that these people are in the majority, but they do seem to run the social gambit from a high school ball fan to a Baptist minister. Our question: Is this a new phenomenon or do people now simply feel more free to express these opinions?

While we hope Erica Fox can be saved (both her person and her soul), we don't feel she should avoid punishment simply because it will hurt her family. That brings us to Christopher Wayne Kilpatrick. He's not killed anyone yet, and we don't want him to. We doubt he's reading this, but we hope wherever he is that he is now thinking over his actions. He has two choices: Come back now and start over...it's not too late...or flee to Mexico/be captured.

A few months ago, a man arrested in Colbert County on a long list of charges was taken to an emergency room where he attempted to escape. He attacked officers and hospital personnel while barricading himself in an X-ray room with dangerous materials. It would have been easy to have shot him, but officers didn't. They kept their heads and recaptured him. Props to all of them!

Now we're asking officers involved in the search for Kilpatrick to do the same. It would be easy to shoot him on sight and claim some form of justification. Please reconsider this. 

We believe in you...and we believe in his ability to turn the second half of his life around after he settles his legal debts.

*****

Someone sent us some rather odd FB posts from a Baptist minister. We're going to ask him, if he's reading this, doesn't he believe in rendering unto Ceasar? If you kill someone, God will forgive, but he also expects you to pay the consequences in this world.