Craven County Board of Commissioners Meeting - 15 April 2013

CCTA Watchdog Report- 25 April 2013

Craven County Board of Commissioners Meeting - 15 April 2013

Earth Day Proclamation

The meeting started with the board adopting an "Earth Day Proclamation." I'm sure we all celebrate that the earth was created for us, but some of the "whereases" made me a little ill. We start with how wonderful it was the that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was formed, then move to Earth Day's being observed by other communities throughout the world providing an opportunity for governments to work together for a prosperous and SUSTAINABLE future, and go on to its providing an opportunity for Craven County residents to join the effort to PROTECT THE PLANET. Get the AGENDA 21 drift? I kept hoping one of our more conservative board members would say something, but no one did.

National Healthcare Decision Day Proclamation

This proclamation was supposedly about encouraging people to let their wishes be known as to how extensive lifesaving measures should be taken to keep them alive in times of severe injury or illness. I RESENT ANYTHING WITH NATIONAL HEALTHCARE IN ITS NAME! I hoped some commissioner would suggest a name change, but it did not happen.

Sheriff's Department Request

The next order of business with any real meaning for taxpayers was a little "dust up" with the Sheriff's Office in which Sheriff Monette participated. The presenter was Captain Jesse Pittman. The differences of opinion between the Board of Commissioners and Sheriff's Department concerned a request to obtain some new vehicles. The Sheriff asked for 10 marked cruisers and 2 unmarked "mobile crime labs." It was quickly pointed out that the approved budget was for 12 marked cruisers. The sheriff said that by having two Dodge Caravans unmarked there could be more flexibility in what they were used for. The Board took this to mean that the Sheriff had other uses in mind and had not fully disclosed his plans. County Manager, Jack Veit, said the vehicles should be marked so that other users of the highways would make way for them as they proceed to the scene of a recent crime. Chairman Dacey then asked if there had been a request for bids on the vehicles as the County had saved a lot of money by putting services and equipment purchases out for bids. The Sheriff said he wanted these specific vehicles and had apparently already looked into purchasing them, but would find comparable prices. After much hullabaloo and posturing on both sides, the Sheriff got his way.

Electronic Monitoring Program

This is a release from jail program with electronic monitoring of the convicted offenders' whereabouts. This program has actually been shown to save the taxpayers money. The Sheriff's office made its quarterly report on the program to the Board of Commissioners. Our own Joe Albanese participated. The commissioners, especially Commissioners Dacey and Taylor wanted more information on these reports such as the cost savings to the taxpayers by avoiding paying medical bills and by avoiding the cost of imprisonment of the offenders. The Sheriff's Department's representatives said they would comply in the future.

The rest of the meeting was pretty routine with nothing earthshattering for the taxpayer or other concerned citizens.


Hal James, Watchdog Committee Chairman

Coastal Carolina Taxpayers Association