A special judge in Marshall County has ruled in favor of Pulaski County officials in the case of an employee terminated in 2013. Continue reading
Pulaski County Voters Elect Sheriff, Commissioner
In Pulaski County Republican Jeff Richwine is the sheriff-elect. He beat Democrat Paul Grandstaff in the contest to replace Mike Gayer, who is retiring due to term limits. Republican Bud Krohn Jr. beat Democrat John Plowman in the county commissioners race. He will replace incumbent Tracey Shorter, who did not seek reelection. Neither did Democrat Councilman Ron Powers. His daughter Linda Powers beat Republican Pam Chumley in that race. Continue reading
County Home to be Considered as a National Historic Landmark
In a meeting set for this afternoon, the Pleasant View Rest Home will be up for consideration to be placed on the list of historic landmarks.
Officials with the Division of State Historic Preservation and Archaeology will review written comments submitted by supporters and non-supporters of the county home for nomination for placement into the National Register of Historic Places.
Pulaski County Commissioners Offer Comment on Military Vehicle Use
The Pulaski County Commissioners were asked by a citizen to address their thoughts on the use and ownership of military vehicles in the county. That update was given at the commissioner’s meeting Monday night.
EMA Director Larry Hoover was present and stated that there were no dollars spent to get these vehicles. The only money spent was for manpower and fuel to get the vehicles and bring them to Pulaski County. As Sheriff Michael Gayer explained to the Pulaski County Council members last week, fuel was spent out of his budget and no additional tax money was used in the acquisition of the military vehicles.
Pulaski County Voters Narrow Sheriff’s Field, Nominate GOP Prosecuting Attorney
Pulaski County voters overwhelmingly supported a first-time candidate and two people who have previously held the offices they are seeking. Former state conservation officer Jeff Richwine was the runaway winner in the Republican sheriff’s primary. He got 1,064 votes to Brian Gaillard’s 444. Jeff Heims finished third with 323. Richwine will face former two-term sheriff Paul Grandstaff in the Nov. 4 General Election. He got 446 votes, and his challenger Jeff Jenkins pulled in 126. Grandstaff also served four years as a county commissioner after his term as sheriff ended. Continue reading
Pulaski Commissioners Reorganize County Home Board
The Pulaski County Commissioners this week reorganized the county home board, appointing eight people to the board after receiving a number of applications. Commissioner Larry Brady said the commissioners met last week in an executive session to review the county home board, and some of the questions asked of applicants was how they see the county home in the future, past work experience, education, party affiliation, organizational skill sets, strengths and weaknesses.
Pulaski Commissioners Address Auction Advertisement Issues
Pulaski Commissioner Tracey Shorter Filed New Conflict of Interest Form
Monterey Bridge Opens to Traffic
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Friday afternoon to officially open the bridge that had been under construction since March. The project had been on the drawing board for several years.
Commissioner Larry Brady attended the ribbon cutting ceremony and was happy with the work of all involved.
Pulaski County Commissioner Appointed as Supervisor Over Rest Home
Pulaski County Commissioners Vote to Support Policy Change for Deputies
The Pulaski County Council and Commissioners will consider a controversial policy change during a joint meeting next week. Deputies with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office contend they lost vacation and personal time when the county switched to calculating them by hours instead of days. That’s because they work 12-hour shifts, while most other county employees work seven hours per day. Continue reading
Pulaski County Commissioners Change Highway Department Hours Again
“Working our 4 to 10 work schedule, we only came in an hour early, which works out to $422 in overtime that was paid out that morning. If we were working 8 to 4 like our current schedule is, it would have been $1,265 in overtime that morning. By working four 10’s just in one morning we saved $843,” Fox explained.
Court Filing Seeks Release of Names of Kenny Becker’s Accusers
The legal battle over longtime Pulaski County Highway Superintendent Kenny Becker’s firing continues. He was reappointed by the county commissioners on January 7th, suspended with pay on January 22nd so allegations raised by a current and a former employee could be looked into and reinstated as highway manager on February 4th following an investigation by an outside consultant. Commissioner Larry Brady served as interim superintendent, and Becker was subsequently fired by the commissioners on March 4th. He’s since hired an attorney and filed a $500,000 notice of tort claim against the county commissioners for slander and defamation of character.
Pulaski County attorney Kevin Tankersley reluctantly released a copy of the consultant’s investigation report after being ordered to do so by the state Public Access Counselor’s office but redacted the names of Becker’s accusers. The new filing seeks to force the release of that information, noting “the Commissioners have failed to comply fully with the requirements of the Open Door Law.” It also states the names are necessary for possible legal action by Becker for slander and defamation of character.
Pulaski County Commissioners Name New Highway Superintendent
A veteran Pulaski County Highway Department employee is the new county highway superintendent. Commissioners voted unanimously during last night’s regularly-scheduled meeting to hire Mark Fox. He’s worked the past nine years under Kenny Becker, who was fired by the commissioners last month after his controversial paid suspension in January and subsequent reinstatement as county highway manager under the supervision of commissioner and interim highway superintendent Larry Brady. Fox was one of four applicants interviewed by the commissioners. Before voting to hire him, commissioners also voted to change the work week for county highway employees to Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Brady voted against Commissioner Terry Young’s motion, leaving president Tracey Shorter to cast the tiebreaking vote.
Pulaski Council Again Denies Commissioners’ Request for iPads
Shorter said the devices would cost the county $4259 for the purchase of the four iPads, a one-time charge of $199 for two years of protection, and an additional $1404 per year to include the devices on the county’s current shared data plan through Verizon. Shorter said that because the commissioners fund had carried over an amount from last year through various cuts in county expenses by both the commissioners and the county council, she felt that this expense is justified – especially when considering the benefit she claims the iPads would have for the county officials.
Pulaski County Highway Department Manager Seeks Clarification
The recent action by Pulaski County commissioners to strip the highway superintendent of his title and make him the manager has raised questions about the chain of command for road repairs. Commissioner Larry Brady is serving as acting superintendent until lingering policy questions are resolved. Meanwhile, Kenny Becker says a couple of roads need to be repaired, including a section of 200 North between 500 and 600 West on his property where a ditch is caving in. Becker told the commissioners if work isn’t done soon, the county may lose the entire road.
Pulaski Commissioners Request iPads; Discussion to Continue
The tablet trend continues as more and more government, education, and private entities switch to tablets such as the iPad to allow employees to access information more conveniently. This time, it’s the Pulaski County Commissioners who are seeking to employ iPads to assist them with their duties.
Commission President Tracey Shorter approached the county council at their meeting this week requesting the purchase of iPads from Venture Wireless to help them work more efficiently. Shorter said it is hard to keep up with the information that is provided in their information packets, and that inconvenience translated to a loss for the county when the commissioners approved the purchase of a new truck for the sheriff’s department before reviewing the bids. Consequently, the commissioners spent more money on a Chevrolet model from Braun Chevrolet than they would have if they had gone with a different bid for a Ford model from Jim Dobson Ford.
Swearing In Ceremony for Elected Officials Held in Pulaski County
In a joint swearing ceremony, all candidates elected in the General Election in Pulaski County were sworn in by Circuit Court Judge, Michael Shurn, and Superior Court Judge, Patrick Blankenship.
One of those sworn into office was Tracey Shorter who will be the newest member of the Board of Commissioners on January 1st.
Besides being the first woman Commissioner in Pulaski County, she is also the youngest at age 42. Ted asked what prompted her to seek the office.
“I ran four years ago and the race was so close,” said Shorter. “Part of it was because there had never been a woman Commissioner and it became a goal of mine. I got sick and realized life is too short to wait so I ran. None of us knows what tomorrow holds. I’m excited. I think it shows a big win for the party but it also shows progress for our County as far as moving forward. I haven’t really done the background but I think not only am I the first woman, but I think I’m the youngest.”
Like all counties, Pulaski has its share of pressing issues that will need to be addressed in 2011.
“Zoning is a big issue, whether or not we keep the County Home open, keeping our budget balanced and not borrowing what we don’t have. All of those things are huge,” said Shorter.
The following were sworn into office: Ron Powers, Pulaski County Council District 3; Tasha Foerg, Pulaski County Clerk; Tom Roth, Pulaski County Council District 2; Stacey Mrak, Pulaski County Prosecutor; Michael “Mick” Tiede, Pulaski County Council District 4; Alex Haschel Pulaski County Council District 1; Joyce Weaver, Pulaski County Surveyor; Steve Van Der Aa, Pulaski County Coroner; Holly Van Der Aa, Pulaski County Assessor; Michael Gayer, Pulaski County Sheriff; and Tracey Shorter, County Commissioner District 3.
