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Anderson community members react to Preston buyout
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ANDERSON COUNTY — The ripples of the decisions made in the Anderson County Council meeting Tuesday are being felt among many community leaders.
Council member-elect Eddie Moore attended Tuesday’s meeting.
“I think it’s crazy what they did,” Moore said Wednesday.
He said Anderson County Administrator Joey Preston’s buyout, which was approved by County Council Tuesday, should have been $377,550, or roughly two years and a few months worth of Preston’s salary. The package approved by council was for $1.14 million.
“If they had paid him what he actually deserved, they wouldn’t have had to take money out of anything,” Moore said.
He said to provide money for the buyout package, funding for roads and bridges will be cut by at least $50,000, along with funds for the animal shelter, public safety and county transportation.
“I just think that (citizens) need to call their councilman and complain,” Moore said.
Council member-elect Tom Allen also is concerned about the loss of road funding, he said.
“I actually look at it as a slap in the face of the taxpayers of Anderson County,” Allen said. “This county has been complaining that we need to upgrade infrastructure and yet the biggest chunk (for the buyout) was out of the transportation budget for road repair.”
The person actually in charge of the road funding is more optimistic.
“I hate not being able to fill positions, but it’s not going to be that bad for us,” said Holt Hopkins, assistant administrator for Anderson County transportation. In Hopkins’ division, five roads and bridges positions will not be filled, along with another position in fleet services.
Hopkins said his understanding is that the positions could be filled in the next budget year, which starts July 1.
Hopkins said he learned of the cuts to his division on Tuesday night.
He said the fuel cuts, worth $75,575, will be easy to accommodate.
“We don’t anticipate that being a problem since we budgeted (fuel allowances) for what (gas) prices were during the summer,” Hopkins said.
If fuel prices rise, Hopkins said, he would take up the issue with the finance department and the County Council.
The largest single chunk of the $1.14 million buyout package will come from $329,339 that had been the infrastructure budget.
Hopkins said leftover funds in the infrastructure budget will help cover the loss.
“That’s more of a future fund to program and plan projects using that money,” he said.
Hopkins said no current infrastructure projects would be affected by the cuts.
Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce Lee Luff was there in person to see what would happen as the council took up the matter of Preston’s contract.
Luff said he is disappointed to see the community lose someone as talented as Preston.
“Joey Preston was good for this county,” Luff said. “He was professional, progressive and visionary, and he will be missed.”
Luff also said he feels Preston’s buyout was the cheaper option for the county in the long run, because the council was headed down a road to a forensic audit that would have cost in excess of $1 million. And Preston’s contract would have still been up in the air — with a buyout looming.
“We are not getting much business done in Anderson County with all of this finger-pointing and this he-said, she-said,” Luff said. “In the long run, all of that has been a determent to our development efforts.”
“If the county was the loser in the litigation we could be looking at more than double (the $1.14 million). This is a chance to clear the air. A mutual parting of the ways,” said Council member Larry Greer, who asked the county finance department to find the $1.14 million.
Dan Harvell, chairman of The Original Anderson County Taxpayers Association, said the buyout is terrible because it takes so much money from the taxpayers, and he thinks it was pre-orchestrated.
“This is the worst piece of government I've ever seen in my life,” Harvell said. “This is the most egregious act against the taxpayers that may have ever occurred in South Carolina to my knowledge.”
But Harvell said the absence of Preston could signal a better day for taxpayers. Preston and the County Council have kept taxpayers in the dark on where their money has been going, Harvell said.
Ed Jean, the president of the Anderson County Taxpayers Association, said that he does not think the buyout for Joey Preston is good for Anderson County because of the controversy and lack of togetherness among the public officials it demonstrates.
“He was a very competent administrator, but like so many people in public office, he got to thinking he could do whatever he wanted,” Jean said. “Unfortunately for the cast of council members that were involved, I don't think they could kind-of control Joey.”
Jean unsuccessfully ran for a County Council position in 2006. Jean also said he was not surprised about the buyout and he thought Preston has been pushing for it.
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“Several weeks ago we were given a letter from Mr. (Robert) Hoskins (Preston’s attorney),” Wilson said. “Council voted to put it in the hands of the personnel committee. … What I am about to do, I am going to do myself. It has not been voted on by the committee.
Larry Greer admits to contacing other council members last week regarding the issue.They communicated via phone,email,...etc to draw up a game plan.But, they never met.That's exlpoiting a loop hole.Larry Greer spilled the beans to AIM.Now Mr. Wilson is a proven liar & four council members are complete fools.Larry Greer & his big mouth..lol
EVERY council member is guilty of ethical voilations this year.
And they wanted another penny for Taxes. I just got my tax Bill. The economy keeps going down but the play-school politicians keep spending our money like they just have to go out to the money tree and pick some. Just watch Humane Socity is going to be begging for money, which they don't have enough already. The penny was needed for what? Roads and Bridges? Right, and anyone that takes even a nickle from our Senior Citizens should be run out of the state. If you make a deal with Satan with a golden parachute that is their fault so the payoff money should come out from council pay. They voted him in, now pay the price. They will answer for their crafty doings before The Judge before it is over. All of you that a few months ago was bragging how good of a man he is, how good does he looking now. Gods word say's (NO man is good NO NOT ONE).
Okay, now we know why Preston wanted to put all of the paving funds under Holt's control. He was another Preston puppet! What really tears it is the fact that our annual roads and paving funds have "leftover funds in the infrastructure budget", a "future fund to program and plan projects" and "no current infrastructure projects would be affected by the cuts". So we have excess monies in the fund used for Anderson County's famous long term paving plans, but one of the main reasons we were asked to pass the penny tax was all the paving and infrastructure projects they said they needed the money for. We all know this whole thing was orchestrated by Preston and he better than anyone knew where the funds to pay for it would come from. He is striking us at our heart. These actions clearly show where Preston's intentions have been in regards to this county and our tax money.
These are a bunch of crooks. No wonder they didn't want a forensic audit. These horror stories of this audit costing so much and all this other blah blah is nothing more than distractions to keep from pulling back the covers on all the activities these council members, perpetrating this fraud on the public, have been up to. They are trying so hard to pull this off, under the guise that it is for the good of the County; but, on the other hand taking money from our budget that they are now saying will not be missed, it is a middle finger from Preston, flipping us off. A month ago they said if we didn't pass Preston's penny tax, this county would fall apart, now we have excess funds that won't be missed.
These are the actions of criminals. All done in secrecy and like all criminals excused by lies and sinister machinations. The video footage of the Council meeting was a joke. No discussion, nothing. Anyone on these threads who defend these actions or rejoice in how it has raped this county are only a part of it. They are rejoicing the audit will probably not occur now. They are rejoicing in their hero sticking it to us. It is criminal, no matter how they try to paint it otherwise.
Whether this railroading of Preston's golden parachute or Cunningham's hiring is criminal in fact or not, it is criminal in spirit. Preston has lived high on the hog on our credit cards for 12 years and now when we want an explanation of how he has been spending our money we are met with legal blocks. When we insist on transparency, the lame duck GANG OF FIVE aligns with Preston to block us knowing what they have been doing with our money. The electorate did not feel the GANG OF FIVE was representing their best interest, so we voted them out and now to get back at us they are doing this to us. I personally, will boycott every one of these GANG OF FIVES businesses, their families businesses, any businesses of their friends or associates businesses, or any other way I can boycott them financially, to let them know that I KNOW they have screwed me as a taxpayer.
BOYCOTT! THE GANG OF FIVE!!
Hopefully this will begin to bring closure to another debacle in Chicago politics.
Whoops. I meant to say Anderson politics.
Oh well...the effect is the same. Graft, corruption and taxpayer paid scams to benefit the powerful.
in response to redrider2k5
The Supreme Court has ruled that if 2 members of a 3 member talk on the phone, that is a meeting under FOI and must not happen. Mr. Greer, Ms. Floyd and MR. R. Wilson KNOW this.
Regardless, R. Wilson, et. al. cooked up a deal to pay Joey Preston 3/4 million dollars more than they had to. They can fire him-that's one of the aspects of being a county or city administrator.
Holt Hopkins should be terminated along with Joey Preston as he does not know what to do unless Joey tells him.
Nothing against Mr. Cunninghan, but his hiring sure looks suspicious.
The money should come out of the $10 million bond issue just passed by this council. Cut the pork, such as the $250,000 to renovate the UPSTAIRS storage area of the Belton City Hall, AKA the future Larry Greer suite.
The comment has been removed for violating the terms of our user-contributions policy and the user account has been quarantined. All further posts from this account will be manually screened until such time as a user is deemed trustworthy. The user account and all posts associated with it will be eliminated if improper comments continue."
Cindy I agree with you 100%.
The upside: Recently, CNN, MSNBC, NBC and CBS reported MULTIPLE annonymous people plan to come forward in Feb 09 with details indicating criminal activity in the Bush Administration, The RNC and GOP Congressmen. Fear for their jobs (ability to support their families) is why they kept their mouths shut for 8 years. They are ready to come out of the woodwork with a new government.
Vice President Cheneny, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzoles, a Texas Gop legislator and 15 others are arraigned Friday in Texas in RICO Criminal Activities.
In February 09, the same is going to happen here...employees are going to come out of the woodwork against Preston. When the new County Council, County Administrator take over...King Joey and his Gang of Five are not in the position to cost innocent people their livelihoods...a lot more will surface
This Spring is the time for a cooperating governments Forensic audit and subsequent federal investigation against abuse of power by Joey, his Gang of Five, and his buddies who became No-Bid vendors for the county.
Water seeks its own level...even arrogant, pompus, condescenting Vice President's have to face the very government they manipulated for their own egos and greed.
My greatest disappointment is Gracie Floyd. I no longer trust, believe or have confidence in ANYTHING she days or does. Gracie Floyd has no testimony with me...professional or spiritual. In my opinion she will always be known as "Preston's Pupet".
BOYCOTT THE GANG OF FIVE...and wait for the real fireworks to begin when people aren't afraid to talk and the Feds can have unobstructive access to records and files.
in response to CindyRoper
Cindy would you please tell us the name of their businesses so we can join in your boycott. I dont keep up with politics enuff to know what they may be, but i will definitely not give them any of my business if i know what they are. Thanks!
Where are the attorneys in this county? There has to be a legal way to prevent this atrocious rape of the citizens of Anderson County.
I CAN SAVE THE COUNTY MILLIONS--stop the bridge construction on COX ROAD and just CLOSE COX ROAD. The residence of that road would Welcome the CLOSING OF COX ROAD.
was just told there is a tape of the council meeting on the way to the AG's office in columbia. i would love to be a fly on the wall when he sees the that!
Me to Cindy, which ones are they? I'll certainly not use them.
Joey Preston has been an embarrassment to Anderson County for a long time. I have wondered repeatedly through his many scandals who's palms he has greased to emerge unscathed. The buy out is further proof that this man has taken the citizens of Anderson County for yet another costly "ride" even as he runs for the door. This is truly criminal.
To xenacat2
Let's hope this is true. That meeting was a fiasco. It was another embarrassment to the people of Anderson County.
Wow the county administration in Anderson is a joke and should all be fired!!
Does anyone know how to file a formal complaint with the SC Attorney General? The citizens of Anderson County need to plummet his office with calls. Mr. Preston should be fired and thus should receive nada, zip, zero. By Mr. Wilson taking the action he did at the meeting, he is thus absolving Mr. Preston of any responsibility for the misappropriation of county funds which may be found in the audit. This is a disgrace to every citizen in this county and we should not take it sitting down. Also, how many signatures does it take to have Ron Wilson removed from the council. A petition is in order.
I am ashamed to admit that I am sorely uneducated in the history of our county council or its actions, generally taking more interest in national and international politics than local ones. Now, I see that that was a critical mistake on my part because as an Anderson County taxpayer, my lack of involvement holds me equally accountable for the irrational and reckless decisions that this council has made.
In this economy, NO ONE should be leaving a job with more than a million dollars in severance. If it cost the county more to litigate against it, I would accept the cost. Take a stand! The council should have taken action that said we want to be fiscally responsible and protect the people who entrust us with their money and community. Their irresponsible actions lead me to question why they are entrusted with our finances anyway.
In addition to this, how does this prevent the expense of a forensic audit? A forensic audit is done independently WITHOUT the approval of the parties being audited. That's the whole purpose of the audit: to ensure that the money is being spent correction and ensure there is no malfeasance on the part of the Council. The argument that the severance package saves taxpayers money by avoiding an audit is illogical and flawed.
I believe this actions shows a lack of understanding and empathy of the part of the Council. It shows that they are out of touch with the community, their needs, and their desires. I think that these actions were selfish and lacked integrity. It was Preston's desire to leave. He doesn't deserve severance and even if he did -- who gets more in a severance package than they expect to make in income? Wouldn't we all elect to leave our jobs then?
in response to disgusted
I am sure there are details on the state's website. I think this is a terrific idea! Let's take back our community and let council know that they are not dictators. They can't act outside the parameters of law and they can't ignore the voices of the citizens! I urge everyone to indeed contact the Attorney General's office to investigate corruption in Anderson County Council!
in response to disgusted
Mr. Preston was fired; but without cause, he is entitled to a severance package. I'm not saying he should receive as much as he is; in fact, he probably shouldn't. But there would have been a lawsuit if the new council would have fired him and not given him anything, as you suggest. This probably saves us money in the long run.
You can't just fire someone and give them nothing without cause. I'm sure you'll argue that there is cause, but there has been no evidence of misuse of funds.
Our bond rating is one of the highest in the state, & every annual audit during Preston's administration has come back clean. (by the way, if they hadn't, that's when a forensic audit should be done, when there is evidence that sommething could be wrong)
Also, I'm not sure South Carolina has the provisions for recall of public officials, as does some states. (You may remember California recalling Gov. Gray Davis) However, most legislative bodies have methods of removing their own members for misconduct. I think that would be the only way an incumbent could be removed without being defeated in an election.
I mistakingly used the wrong word to convey the word "complain". I will now attempt to get my point across without said adjective. What I said was: The money used to pay for the lawsuits between CW and JP could have been used to pay for some on these projects. Perhaps the whole council should have been replaced and a new government formed that enjoyed the trust of the people. I am sure there are many people in Anderson who are tired of the same old same old and they want to see their hard earned dollars going to something besides a continuous slinging match between the county administrator and council members who don't agree with the way he does the job. To those of you who would have been offended by the said adjective used to convey the word "complain" I do apologize.
in response to disgusted
I don't know that the AG's office would have jurisdiction in this case or not. I think a complaint to the State Ethics Commission would definitely be in order. You can find them here http://ethics.sc.gov/Complaints/ and I would encourage everyone to call (several times if you can get your family members on board as well) and make your complaints known about what is happening in Anderson County.
I am not sure what the best path is going to be to bring some justice to this situation. I have heard discussion of a tax revolt and I have heard other remedies suggested. If everyone came together and refused to pay their taxes until some justice was served in this matter, we might get their attention. Another approach suggested was for everyone to appeal every notice, every bill, everything they receive from the county, through the channels of appeal for that item. You have the right to appeal every property assessment, every bill, every ticket, every notice for anything has an appeal process. If everyone banded together and appealed every single thing issued by the county, the workings of the county government would basically grind to a halt. Then maybe we will get some justice. The point is we need to come together and speak as one voice. The downside of these approaches are that the people hurting us, the lame duck council persons who don't care about us anyway and a county administrator that has been sticking it to us coming and going and could care less if it wreaks havoc on this county. They aren't going to be affected whatever we do, unless we are able to nix this million dollar payoff to Preston. I have always thought he should be investigated and if appropriate, criminally charged for what he has been doing. The GANG OF FIVE and Preston have run over us with all this crookedness for years now and it will take the public standing up to correct it. I am sure Bob Waldrep and some others knowledgeable in the law are looking into it. It is a shame we don't have AIM with us. AIM has always been in the Preston camp.
I am looking into all the businesses owned by the GANG OF FIVE, their families, friends and associates. I will post that information as soon as I have it.
BOYCOTT THE GANG OF FIVE!!!
Lee Luff, if JP was good for the county and a professional, he would not have greedily taken $1M from the taxpayers roads.
And why does Holt Hopkins think having six vacant positions because of it "is not going to be that bad"? If he can make it until July without those employees, why add them back at all?
in response to andersonnativejtm
You are always a joke you know. Get your facts right. When was Preston fired? His little letter claiming an "anticipatory breach of contract" was nothing but a charade. No, he was afraid of the forensic audit and an incoming council he couldn't control. He contrived this whole thing to get out while the getting was good and he had a council he could pull it off with. He needs that clause in his severance agreement (#8) that disallows anyone to sue or pursue him for anything. You sound like an educated person, so you should know an annual audit only checks over the numbers provided by the county. They don't delve into the use of the monies or anything beyond that. I assure you, after a forensic audit, we would have plenty of reason to fire Preston, WITH CAUSE. He knows that and that is why he has made this end run while he had his fellow crooks still on council and could pull it off.
As to the AA bond rating, well heck yeah we pay our bills. What does that have to do with Preston? Also what you are not telling people is that the bond rating is that high because we are paying insurance to have it that high. Why don't you tell people that? Using taxpayer money, we pay an insurance premium that insures our bonds and THAT is the reason our bond rating is high. NOT BECAUSE OF some wonderful thing Preston has done to earn it. You crow about that like it is something he personally did or is some rating of his expertise or credibility. We bought and paid for that rating. Get your facts right mister if you are going to have any credibility here.
in response to andersonnativejtm
I assert the manner in which Mr. Preston has acted and his lack of performance in his job in the past few years is reason enough to fire him. I have reams of data I have gathered which basically reflects:
- Our bond rating is good but not as good as Greenville's and other counties in the state.
- Mr. Preston's lack of concern for spending has resulted in some of the largest increases in expenditures in the state.
The list goes on and on of what Mr. Preston has not done.
There is plenty of cause to fire Joey Preston with or without an audit.
i'm not quite understanding this. was he fired? did he quit? does it say in his contract he is entitled to the buyout if he is resigning? or if he is fired? and if he was fired...for what reason exactly?
in response to xenacat2
Preston's employment contract.
http://media.independentmail.com/and/...
Preston's severance "offer"
http://media.independentmail.com/and/...
We made a huge mistake agreeing to Preston's contract to begin with. We should not compound that error by letting him off scott free, from whatever it is he is running from, give him a bonus and then agree to never sue or pursue him for his actions.
The only people who would want to do that, are in it up to their necks with him.
Letter claiming "anticipatory breach"
http://media.independentmail.com/and/...
Letter explaining that he had not resigned.
http://media.independentmail.com/and/...
in response to CindyRoper
Um, he was fired when County Council voted to release him from his contract. I'm not naive though, I suspect Preston and the council members coordinated this, but it was to prevent him from suing us for termination without cause.
I'm glad you can ASSURE me that there is cause for termination, I'm sorry I can't take your word for it, but I can't, not after reading most of your posts anyway. There has been absolutely no evidence of misuse of funds, other than y'all complaining about Joey spending too much time and money at Sullivan's.
Thanks for the compliment, you seem well educated as well. Therefore you should know that the annual audits review many RANDOM accounts from several RANDOM departments. It's the most effective and efficient way to test competent financial operations.
I'm not sure what you mean by "only checks over numbers provided by the county" Of course the auditors check over numbers provided by the county in each account to see if they match up. But the county doesn't assign the random accounts to audit.
By the way, most local governments insure their bonds. I'm not sure where you're going with that either. I'm not saying Preston should deserve credit for a good bond rating, but it (among other things) is evidence of sound financial practices in Anderson County.
in response to andersonnativejtm
Actually, SC is a "right to work" state in which you CAN be fired without fault. That said -- personal agendas should be completely off the table. Who is in the wrong here? Was Preston doing a poor job managing? Does someone on Council have a penchant for Machiavelli? Is the Council just getting rid of him because of personality conflicts? What's the deal?
I can't help but think that the reason Mr. Preston is being handed such a package is that the results of a forensic audit would be so damaging to so many. Clearly this is a web of deceit and I agree that we need to take any and all steps to demand action. All of the warning signs are there but noone is taking responsibility. The only ones affected are the tax paying citizens of Anderson County. I'm all for any ideas that could get the attention of county and state government.
in response to ConcernedCitizen25
I agree personal agendas should be off the table and it should be a matter of competence in the job.
Just want to clear up any confusion. Yes, SC is a right to work state, but that doesn't mean employeers can fire sonemone without cause.
Right to work laws have to do with labor organization/union membership. These laws prevent compulsory unionsim. They guarantee you can't be compelled to join/not join labor organizations as a condition of employment.
in response to andersonnativejtm
Great, I don't think much of your posts either. That aside when was he terminated without cause? Preston's letter states he thought the new council putting him on administrative leave while an audit was conducted would hinder him from doing his job. Is he saying the council can't place him on administrative leave? Face it Preston thinks he is above the law, not answerable to council or responsible to the taxpayer. Discussing it, thinking about it, wanting it, is not doing it. How do you look into the future and tell me Preston was going to be fired without cause? In fact, Bob Waldrep, one of the staunchest defenders of the taxpayers on our council said he had no problem with Preston continuing as long as he repected the new council's desire for transparency.
This was set up by JP. The unfilled funded positions are stored money for him. When he realized that his puppets would no longer be, it was clear that he had to get out before a 'real' audit was conducted. His letter was sent to initiate a review by the personnel committee, which is wholey made up of his puppets. He did not quit, he was not fired.
#8 in the buyout contract indicates that he is well aware that a forensic audit would find him criminally guilty. Otherwise he was have accepted the audit decision and taken paid leave while it was conducted.
in response to xenacat2
I can assure you the AG in S.C. has been contacted. I received my response this morning from his office per e-mail
and I told them first hand of this Washington type lobbyist style council. We as citizens must cry out for justice to be served even if we have to persue it to the Federal level. The five stooges should be removed. I hate to say it, but Cindy and Bob seem to have been somewhat correct here. Preston and all of his cronies are theives. How can they call themselves nothing but theives? It almost reminds me of the outragious spending for unneeded things at our local healthcare facilities.(not to mention any names) A H .... If you want to prove something council members take the monies you waste annually and put it to use for our elderly and handicapped in the county! We have DCEC worried of closing because of the lack of funding. WHAT A TRAVISTY!
#13 implies that he resigned.
The AG has an attorney for "constituent services".
(803) 734-3970
or go on line here:
http://www.scattorneygeneral.org/ag/c...
You can pull up the form to file violations against any member you want on the web site: http://www.scattorneygeneral.org/ag/c...
Or you can call
South Carolina State Ethics Commission
5000 Thurmond Mall, Suite 250
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
(803) 253-4192 (office)
Do something, doing nothing means you agree with what has happened.
Although there were public statements made by members of the council elect regarding terminating Mr.Preston.The termination hasn't happened yet because the council elect
hasn't officially taken office.Mr.
Preston signed up & was granted
generous unemployment benefits before officially being terminated.I'm sure all the folks that have been laid from "average joe" jobs wish they were allowed to sign up & receive unemployment benefits weeks before the lay off occured.
in response to xenacat2
The AG has informed me many times, he does NOT work for the people of SC, but for the GOVERNMENT of SC. Therefore, he will not intervene on behalf of the taxpayers - unless it will advance his political career.
in response to andersonnativejtm
It also means you can be fired without cause, except if violates an anti-discrimination law.
Most contracts with city/county administrators contain a clause stating thate EITHER party can terminate the contract and the consequences. It is usually pay for 90, 180 days, etc.
What does Joey's contract state?
It certainly won't HELP his political career to ignore the tax payers' of Anderson County and the insane actions of the Fab 5 on this council.
Preston was arrogant. Cindy is arrogant. Cindy lost every lawsuit she brought. Cindy cost the taxpayers millions of dollars for personal vendetta's because her arrogance couldn't play in the same sandbox with his arrogance. Now the taxpayers lose again.
That said...the knuckleheads who put together this severance package should also be impeached (along with Cindy, for starting this mess). If the employment contract linked by Cindy Roper is still the operative contract, then Joey should not receive anything more than 3 years compensation - even if he's discharged "without cause" - how does 3 years equal 1.14 million?!
in response to andersonnativejtm
If you know that much, then I assume you also know those audits of those RANDOM departments and those RANDOM accounts have a dollar amount threshold filter. In other words only transactions over a certain dollar amount are reviewed. Are you with me so far? Oddly enough, charges made to various credit cards and transactions made to various accounts have routinely been broken down into smaller amounts. Are you still with me? Is it unfair to assume, because someone is going to so much trouble to fly under the radar by altering the true amounts of transactions by making them into several smaller transactions, that they are up to no good? We aren't talking once or twice, in the reams of records I have seen, it has been done hundreds of times. It has been done enough times to see that it is an intentional pattern of avoiding the audit threshold filter. Are you still with me? Okay, to me that demonstrates intent on the part of Preston to circumvent the audit process. That alone is sufficient cause to question what else he has been doing to circumvent audits. No doubt he is a smart guy. Problem with smart guys is, they never think they are going to get caught and they let it get out of hand. Did you catch Holt's response about when he called Preston to get permission to take a gang of people out to eat? The large bill was broken down into two charges for that meal. You don't have to take my word for it, I will gladly post all the credit card bill infomation posted by AIM some months ago and you can look for yourself. You are also welcome to look over the 50,000 pages given to Cindy Wilson. After all this has transpired, the way these charges are broken down, for no good reason, takes on a whole new meaning and is all the smoking gun I need to know what he has been doing in that regard. I would speak to some other matters as well, but have been advised to wait until the appropriate time (you know, records disappear, get accidentally shredded, are altered).
Despite what you think, I am not trying to convince anyone of anything except to go and look for themselves. Don't fall for the excuses and the lies, check it out for yourself. If you just blindly want to believe that because no one has proven any criminal acts by Preston that he is just being given a hard time, well you have to remember he has not permitted anyone, not even our elected council members, free access to records without redacting everything from them that would show who, what, when, where and why monies were spent or transferred to various accounts. The pattern and usage of monies definitely indicate a slush fund was in operation. Criminality is something for a court to decide. Are you saying he has to be convicted before you believe it? You say you are not naive, but if you are telling me because I don't have papers in my hand or a court conviction that prove something criminal has happened before you believe anything is amiss, I would have to disagree as to your naivete.
In reading these posts I don't see anyone pointing out the bottom line.
Preston worked for the county council of Anderson County. Just as your employer is ultimately responsible for whatever you do on the job...the buck stops at the county council as a group. It was they that wouldn't control him. If any of them didn't like the situation they had the opportunity to resign at any time. Staying in made them part of the group and equally guilty.
All of you that want blood (and you are justified in demanding it...I think) should concentrate your efforts on the council...all of them. They operate as a group and should be delt with as a group. You can't just break out the 3 or 4 you don't like.
Let Preston slink away...go after the council.
Bottom line to me is that Preston wasn't doing the job he was hired to do. How many times have you been "fired" and given $1 million at the same time? I think I will apply for his job, not do it, then never have to work again!
I love it. Get im, guys!
in response to onmyown
Nah...you need to be a football coach...it pays better.
in response to Laughing_Out_Loud
Maybe you just haven't been following the evolution of this debacle, or you are in bed with the crooks! Not all of the council have been in lock step with Preston. Despite the assertions of Preston worshippers, Cindy and Bob have spent every council meeting and opportunity given them to challenge the GANG OF FIVE and Preston. They have taken the time, made the effort, tolerated the BS, and still forged on in bringing Preston and the GANG OF FIVE to task about the lack of transparency in our county government. I'm sorry, no matter how hard I try to squint I don't see the actions of these two as being people who have something to hide or worry about. People who have something to hide, stonewall, lie, slink off in the corner, do things in secret, put up legal blocks and make excuses. Those are the actions of people who are worried about something. The actions of Bob and Cindy do not demonstrate to me that they have a thing in the world to worry about. The actions of Preston and the GANG OF FIVE are just the opposite. Everything they are doing are the actions of someone who has something to hide.
So, by you wanting everyone to go after the entire council tells me you are part of the Preston camp. Because only someone from the Preston camp would be in denial about what is really going on here. You and Dck Rambone (what a nasty name to pick as a login name...this website won't even let me type his real login name in here) are birds of a feather. Why don't you go flock together.
Interesting....
Title 30 - Public Records
CHAPTER 4.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
SECTION 30-4-70
"c) No chance meeting, social meeting, or electronic communication may be used in circumvention of the spirit of requirements of this chapter to act upon a matter over which the public body has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power."
Of course, it is just a misdemeanor for violating the rule...(100 dollar fine or 30 days in jail)
Here's how the County Council SHOULD have handled the matter (according to our Constitution)
CODE OF LAWS
TITLE 4
CHAPTER 9 County Government
Article 7
"SECTION 4‑9‑620. Employment and qualifications of administrator; compensation; term of employment; procedure for removal.
The council shall employ an administrator who shall be the administrative head of the county government and shall be responsible for the administration of all the departments of the county government which the council has the authority to control. He shall be employed with regard to his executive and administrative qualifications only, and need not be a resident of the county at the time of his employment. The term of employment of the administrator shall be at the pleasure of the council and he shall be entitled to such compensation for his services as the council may determine. The council may, in its discretion, employ the administrator for a definite term. If the council determines to remove the county administrator, he shall be given a written statement of the reasons alleged for the proposed removal and the right to a hearing thereon at a public meeting of the council. Within five days after the notice of removal is delivered to the administrator he may file with the council a written request for a public hearing. This hearing shall be held at a council meeting not earlier than twenty days nor later than thirty days after the request is filed. The administrator may file with the council a written reply not later than five days before the hearing. The removal shall be stayed pending the decision at the public hearing."
The County Council DID NOT follow proper procedures as set out by SC Law.
There is also some questions regarding the reappropriations of monies from accounts without proper procedures being followed.
in response to CindyRoper
WTG CindyRoper YOU SAID IT ALL I SAY ...AMEN AND MAY GOD BLESS ALL THE CROOKS IN ANDERSON COUNTY COUNCIL!!!!
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