Prior to surgery Chairwoman Bias sent out a letter in regard to the meeting, stating she would like to post the job position again and have an unbiased third party to review the applications, conduct the interviews, and recommend who should be hired.
After no progress was made toward hiring an engineer Commissioner Horace Clemmons made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Other commissioners refused to second the motion for more than 30 minutes resulting in the motion dying. Finally Commissioner Allen motioned to adjourn. Commissioners Smith and Stone voted against the motion. Commissioners Allen and Clemmons voted for the motion resulting in the end of the meeting.
During the regular commission meeting, Andy Mann on behalf of the Greater Jackson County Chamber of Commerce presented a resolution to the County Commission in support of the Compromise Resolution to identify and select the person best qualified to lead Jackson County efforts in the areas of infrastructure, road repair, and construction and maintenance.
In a prepared statement, Clemmons of District 4 said the Jackson County Commission is dysfunctional.
Clemmons said, "About a month into office I got crossways with Commissioners Stone and Allen over an issue with implementing time clocks for all county employees. At that time Commissioner Allen told me "You think you are in charge big boy, I will show you who is in charge". On that, his word has been good. Since then we have had several important issues on which I have disagreed with the other three commissioners."
Clemmons named the courthouse security, personnel policy and county engineer as those issues
Clemmons stated that courthouse security was resolved after an extended time.
"The County had a Personnel Policy, designed by Auburn University, to minimize the impact of political favoritism and nepotism. The policy needed some minor changes, but these three commissioners chose to throw it out instead of fixing and strengthening it. They have dismantled it in favor of one that will allow them to hire whomever they want, not necessarily the most qualified candidate," he said. "That brings us to the county engineer. It is my belief that the commissioners changed the personnel policy so that they could hire whomever they want for County Engineer. After the public interviews, I do not believe that the candidate they are putting forward is the most qualified, as a matter of a fact, he was, at best, fourth on my list of candidates."
Clemmons said that the commission is at a stalemate and that through procedural rules, Chairman Sadie Bias has been able to keep the other commissioners from hiring the engineer they want.
"So here we are looking like a bunch of idiots in a time of opportunity when we should be working to provide a better future for Jackson County," Clemmons said.
Clemmons encouraged Jackson County citizens to get involved in government. He said unless citizens start coming to commission meetings and letting commissioners know what they want, then the citizens will have three more years of what they currently have.
