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There are those who have been following the developments of the Williamson County board over the past month or so who are saying “What the HELL” as well as those who are saying “Business as usual.”
And the sad fact is, it’s a timing thing…because BOTH comments are accurate and appropriate.
For those who are new to the Williamson County board, they’re kind of appalled to see exactly how fast and loose they conduct business; for those who’ve been around for awhile, they’re jaded and dismissive about it. But Disclosure and those who are wanting to see things done right in the area are still digging into the various faux pas the public bodies in the area continue to do…and this next Read the Lead is a follow-up to the piece we brought you here on November 14. Here’s “Meetings questioned,” your next Read the Lead:
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WILLIAMSON CO.—A happenstance overhear of an apparently unscheduled and therefore, un-agenda’d, meeting of Williamson County board members has raised questions over how many full board meetings are held without the public being advised of them.
Disclosure staffers were at the county’s administrative building in Marion on Thursday, November 14, 2013, following up on a tragic accident that took the life of a Harrisburg woman the day before (see website for details) as well as delivering Freedom of Information Act requests when staff overheard loud voices coming from what was marked as a “storage room” off to the side of the county board meeting room on the second floor of the building.
Room 226, clearly marked “Storage Room,” seemed an odd place for what seemed to be a serious meeting of what sounded, judging by the conversation, like public officials.
As Disclosure staff listened, a gruff voice opined about letting something “wait til December 31st,” and how that, in his vulgarity-filled opinion, was a bad idea.
The man, whose voice was deep and booming, analogized letting the matter (whatever it was) sit until that time to a “festering sore on your leg, and you’re gonna let it sit until December 31st? F^*k no; you’re gonna take care of it right now!”
Other voices joined in on the opining, but were not so booming and thus weren’t easy to understand through the closed double doors of the “storage closet.”
However, the first voice came back, telling the others “It’s time to rock n roll!” and that they had to “get on this.
“They’re gonna do what they’re told,” the man said, “or we’re gonna take em in front of the group!”
Less than a week later, Disclosure was able to obtain access to the scheduling book for the county board, as well as for the board room.
On that date in question (Nov. 14), there were no meetings scheduled. However, Disclosure confirmed that the county commissioners had been using the room at that time.
The room, it was explained, was actually a “lunch room” and was “mismarked,” by the contractor who put up the building, as a “storage room.”
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Read the rest of the story by clicking this link to get started with your online subscription, or pick up a print version at these vendors! You can get your print copy of Disclosure in Williamson County at ROC One-Stop in Marion on DeYoung, and in Johnston City; Pit Road Racing in downtown Marion; and Hunter’s Cove Barber Shop in Marion on DeYoung!