Have A Complaint?

[estherlike]

If you have a complaint about anything in Ashland County including the elected officials, feel free to voice it here. This is YOUR forum and your chance to vent.

[armchairquarterbck]

>:(It is upsetting that the Commissioners do not take into consideration what the citizens have to say on any situation. All the citizens of Ashland County wanted was a chance to vote on Heartland Home since it is OUR county home. I feel these Commissioners need to leave office since they do not consider us, the citizens of this county, their bosses. We elected them to listen to us and run our county for OUR best interest, not theirs.

[Fed up]

Word has it that our "Wonderful" Finance Director hasn't been in all week long and is not returning phone calls or emails from her staff. Also, there are items that require her signature that aren't being signed and the audit is falling behind because she isn't there to provide what they need. Is this so that we can continue paying her salary even longer?

[estherlike]

Good point, fed up. Isn't it amazing that our city and county officials couldn't see this coming? This job is a full time job and there is no way you can do it for two different cities, especially when they are so far apart.

[Fed up]

>:(Esther, the city officials and everyone working for the city pretty much knew this would happen. They are the ones who know what she's really like, even though her supporters think she's the greatest. Unfortunately, there's nothing they can do, as they can't fire her. She works for the citizens only and she's done a good job on them. Narcissists are very good at what they do, all public bravado, pathological lying, lack of empathy, etc. Their favorite word is "I". There is no "I" in the word "team" and she's definitely not a team player. She is superior to everyone. At least there's light at the end of the tunnel and her reign of terror will be over. They can't even appoint someone to replace her till she is "truly gone."

[estherlike]

I think it interesting that the city is within the county but the county officials always say they have no control over the city. What a crock!!! And the more you look into both city and county government the more of the "I" attitude you see. This is why we, as a community, need to take back our city, county and country. We have been hanging out there so long we know very well what team work is and it is certainly not in our government right now. And how right you are, team work is what gets the job done. Isn't it disgusting that the everyday employee can be terminated but someone like the city finance director, who has so much control, can not be terminated without a lengthy legal battle? The same goes for any elected official. We as a public have to foot the bill for the legal counsel to get them out but they get their legal counsel free of charge on the backs of the citizens.

[Fed Up]

>:(Yes, Esther, it is disgusting. I think as well as many others that the position of finance director should be made an appointed position, instead of elected. This is just too much power given to a person who has control over the all of the city's revenue and our tax dollars. From what I understand it would mean a change to the city charter which would require a vote. Maybe we need to call our council person and demand it. After all, they should be working for us since we elected them. We also need to start going to council meetings and make ourselves heard. Unfortunately, we have become a nation of complacency "let someone else do it." I for one am happy to see people coming together about the closing of Heartland Home. It's a good start.

[gunny]

Fed up,
I find your posts interesting and yes quite true of the nature of things in our Country as a whole. Lately, I have been watching the CEOs complain that the money handed to them in the bailout has too many strings attached and they want to give it back. I can't help but think how different, and possibly for the better, our Federal, state, and local leadership would be if we didn't take the handouts from the Government above us. Also if the Federal government would concentrate on the duties given them by the U.S. Constitution and let other things alone.

Now to the finance director position. I would have found it logical if they appointed an interim, possibly from within the department, to legally have the authority to do the directors job. I would than find it acceptable to have her work closely for "training purposes" for a week or so and finally she could be a "consultant" for a period of time at a stated hourly rate. This could be her annual salary divided by 2080 hours in a 52 week 40 hours a week year. However, I am sure there are some state and Federal laws that make it difficult to do this. Also if I was an elected official I would be a bit gun shy of doing much of anything because of her and a lawsuit - remembering her attorney and the Mayor. I would be tempted to do what was the path of least resistance and lowest possible cost to the City. However, this may not be the lowest cost to employees mental health and that could be expensive when you have long time employees transferring to other departments, retiring early, or finding other jobs.

[gunny]

This is a nice thing where a person can state their opinion and not have to give out information when they register. I feel once word is out many who are afraid to state opinions but have very good things to offer will find this forum and will post. This site is super for this and I thank the webmaster for letting it be this way.

[estherlike]

;DFed Up, we are so glad you are here and returning. You and anybody else is welcome to come in and make your complaints since our city and county don't seem to have any place you can go to make them and the TG requires you disclose to them your identity. We don't require that. We feel everybody needs a place to vent and should be allowed to do it without disclosing who they are or putting their livelihood on the line.

Again, welcome and please keep returning.

[gunny]

I would also like to echo estherlike and also add to her post. We not only need to be able to vent but it is also important to bare our thoughts without having to be politically correct or where someone can castigate you and embarrass you in public. I feel this forum could be the pulse of what our elected officials need to know but in a safe haven. I hope that when the word gets out others will post when they know it is safe to do so.

[Fed Up]

Thank you, Esther and Gunny. This is a fantastic idea. I have truly enjoyed your posts in the T-G. It is unfortunate that there many things that can't be said for fear of recrimination, even when it is the truth. Maybe somewhere down the road that can happen, but there will still be people who refuse to see the truth. Ashland County really is a nice place to live, and the mentality here is very different from other places I have lived, and I also have lived in tougher counties. In the meantime, I hope the city can recover from the reign of madness. Workplace bullying does exist. There is a move to make workplace bullying illegal. It's called the "Healthy Workplace Bill." Thank you again.

[estherlike]

Fed Up, you are welcome to start a new thread about the "Healthy Workplace Bill". If for some reason you have a problem doing so, post a reply here and I will start the thread for you.

Right now we just need to get the word out that people CAN post here and never have to reveal who they are or have any fear of retaliation by the powers that be. THAT is what this group is all about. Being able to get the suggestions and problems out in the open and try to work on a solution.

One thing that NEEDS to be done is the State Legislature contacted, in our area that is Dave Hall, and request an amendment to the "Home Rule" issues in this state. Home Rule does not permit any state entity to come into a county and investigate without being invited by local law enforcement. In a situation like ours, that will not happen because our elected officials hold the purse strings of the local law enforcement and therefore, local law enforcement fear retaliation as well.

I would like to thank you for your compliment and your ability to see that much research has gone into our comments prior to posting on the TG. This research is well documented and can all be proved. But, as you said, there are some that will not see it even when given the evidence. That is what we need to fight and get removed from county and city positions.

I agree with Gunny that if the financial positions of both city and county were appointed and not elected it would put the financial leaders in a more accountable position. At this point, with what it takes to remove them from office prior to the next election, they are basically free to do what they want. Unfortunately that includes causing a hostile and inadequate work environment. I would not want to be an employee under the city finance director right now. That MUST be an impossible work area.

[ormand]

How does it happen that people who are in charge of our tax dollars, city, county and country government think that they can do as they choose and don't seem to have to answer to anyone. I have never worked any place that there wasn't someone who was looking over my shoulder....doesn't it seem strange that all the time the finance director was here that no one either was not looking at all, or perhaps was looking past the situation because it was easier than confronting the situation? I am not advocating a squeeling contest, but adequate supervision seems to be the way to go, doesn't it? I am sure that the problems didn't just come about overnight.

[estherlike]

>:(Katie, just look at today's paper. Waste everywhere. If JFS was able to perform they duties on a 37 hour work week prior, why are they going back to 40 hours? It shouldn't matter that the funds would go back to the state. Isn't that one of the things that is being said is that many of the cuts are coming from the state cutting their funding? Imagine if every one of the 88 counties allowed the allocated funds that were not needed to go back to the state. That would allow the state to allocate more funds into areas the are needed but these three can't seem to grasp that idea.

[gunny]

Is it possible that adding up all the 3 hours per week people were not working could result in a cut in the workforce? Why is it that public employees feel that they must spend everything and can not let anything go back so theirs that really need it can benefit? Nah! just complain about not having enough? They could have a difficult time if some others are elected Commissioner.

[katie272882]

esterlike, I couldn't agree with you more! However with all the talk about the commissioners get ready to see Heartland Home, I think it is time for people to stand up and be counted!
The facility should be used to assist county residents, this could accommodate "homeless" people on a temporary basis, use it as a children's home, and that would save $$$$$$ of tax
payers money, have supervisors, case workers, counselors available 24/7 and that would cost much less than housing so many children in private homes, and even having to send them out of the county for foster care. This home should be kept for county services and the
commissioners had better wise up or guess what? They could be in a real pickle when push comes to shove from the Ashland County Residents who VOTE!! The children could have their
own rooms, be within the county to transport to school, have plenty of room to play outside,
have ball games, go fishing, walking and keeping active all with SUPERVISION 24/7 available if they have a problem or just want to express their fears or need a little help! How great would that be??

[katie272882]

Sorry, I meant to say "sell" Heartland Home. Can't use spell check, so I goofed!

[estherlike]

I think we all need to unite and fight to keep this building a community building. The three stooges have seen to it that it is not being used as a county home at this time but that doesn't mean that we, as a community, can't fight to keep it a community building. I agree with these posts, use it as a homeless shelter, a children's home (since the Commissioners of past have seen to it that the children's home is now a juvenile detention center) or a community center. Something that helps the COMMUNITY, not the three stooges. And I think we need to put something in the charter preventing the three unholy ones from EVER getting their hands on that property or anything in it again.

[citizen]

what?

[gunny]

There appears to be much "speculation" in the community that the Commissioners are making preparations to sell Heartland Home. If they did, I am not sure a local Realtor would not handle it because of the downside of losing potential business which is at a premium in today's market.

[estherlike]

Gunny, I agree. I don't think a local Realtor would touch the sale of that building with the controversy surrounding the closing of the home. I know there would be at least a temporary fall out from that transaction being handled by a local.

[henry]

Just had a friend question this evening as to where all the money the county generates is being spent and how it is being spent and for what? Said they have been told that if we knew where all of it was going ,we would be in for a big shock. Guess the community activists need to do some more digging on this huge issue. What do you think, gunny?

[estherlike]

Henry, have them look at the website. It is a real eye-opener. I will say the spending has dropped considerably since it is now public how much was being spent for meals and travel but I have no doubt there is still a lot of waste, like BOE maintaining 5 full time employees among other things. We will keep looking and have people keep watching the site. As we get things we do get them up on the site as fast as possible.

[gunny]

Henry,
I just read your post and also Estherlike's post. I have heard the same thing but not near as much as I did a year or so ago. This Community group has done what should be front and center on every elected official's agenda and that is seeking the truth with transparency. This is the first website that I have been on in a long time, or maybe the first, that verifies all information before it is posted. There is never the ambush mentality that I see in other areas - one being the tactics used in the Ashland School Board meetings. There are some who ambush for the camera than leave before the opposition can comment. A tactic used very well by the Viet Cong in Vietnam - guess they did read history. I also believe this website and the Community activist organization must continue to post the truth with transparency because it has worked well but more is needed.

[irish242]

Is anyone watching or following the budget talks for 2010? The 3 stooges have told many depts. that money will be even tighter in 2010. I'm sure the BOE will ask for more money, and they will get it. Thanks to the newly won lawsuit. I'm sure they are just licking their chops, and they will demand a bunch of money. Guess they don't care about the citizens of Ashland County.