Grand Jury Report on Walton Planning Department

[Misty]

Misty:

My facts are correct and true.

Jason Catalano WAS a code enforcement officer. But let's start at the beginning.

He was hired on as C. Jones' personal aide/assistant her first go around as commissioner. He was a Roofer prior to that.

Once her term was up, she helped get him the job at Code Enforcement, he had Zero Experience, yet was immediately hired. His hourly rate was higher that most.

He was quickly promoted to Senior Code Enforcement Officer. His hourly rate was higher than most.

The County just hired Mr. Catalano as a Planner 1. He was selected for this Planner position over several far more qualified candidates. Several had Masters Degrees in Planning or similar fields.

Care to explain that? Sounds like we need another Grand Jury...

Again John G...No one ever said nepotism doesn't exist in Walton County. It does.

No one ever said C Jones isn't guilty of doing favors for friends and family either. We ALL know she does.

I was a tad surprised to learn that C. Jones husband and Bill Eddins are quite the bosom buddies though.

 

[graytonbeachguy]

Misty wrote: "Two years from now no one will remember this."

I agree. Unfortunately for Commissioner Meadows, the election is in eleven months.

My understanding is that Commissioner Jones' husband and Bill Eddins grew up together in Ponce de Leon. It's a pretty small place. I would think two young boys who grew up together there would almost certainly be bosom buddies.

 

[Misty]

Misty wrote: "Two years from now no one will remember this."

I agree. Unfortunately for Commissioner Meadows, the election is in eleven months.

Actually I didn't say that ShallowsNole did.

However, I do think Meadows is now aware her days are numbered.

Going to be interesting to see who runs for her seat.

 

[Misty]

My understanding is that Commissioner Jones' husband and Bill Eddins grew up together in Ponce de Leon. It's a pretty small place. I would think two young boys who grew up together there would almost certainly be bosom buddies.

No implications intended with that comment...just wasn't aware and was surprised to find out they were so close.

 

[Patriot Games]

My understanding is a guy I believe named Tony Anderson has picked up a packet from the Supervisor of elections to run against Mrs. Meadows. Word I got is he is a retired mail carrier from either Freeport or Defuniak and has moved to district 5 and rented a house. He will be backed by many developers and the small business association. I've never heard of the guy until yesterday. If anybody knows who he is, please try and confirm or deny that information. I expect it to be interesting. After the Hampton Inn issues, I expect this next election to be citizens vs small businesses and developers. Whoever raises the most money will win. That's the way Walton politics seem to roll....

 

[Danny Glidewell]

Danny, I am certainly not interested in returning to the days where the Commissioners oversee employees. They hire a staff who are to see day to day operations. If a Commissioner doesn't like the way something is going, then there is a process for them to follow.

Bob, I was not advocating returning to that system officially. But the truth is the system returned without any accountability. Don't forget we had a commissioner less than two months ago trying to take away a pay raise from an employee and fire a director for giving a raise that the Chairman of the Board publicly stated was granted by following BCC policy. But that one commissioner told the director not to do it and thus was insubordinate in her opinion, despite what policy said. That director was then forced out. Lets stop the hypocrisy and the double talk or blasting one commissioner for doing the same things the rest are doing simply because you don't agree with them or you agree with the others.

 

[Truman]

My understanding is a guy I believe named Tony Anderson has picked up a packet from the Supervisor of elections to run against Mrs. Meadows. Word I got is he is a retired mail carrier from either Freeport or Defuniak and has moved to district 5 and rented a house. He will be backed by many developers and the small business association. I've never heard of the guy until yesterday. If anybody knows who he is, please try and confirm or deny that information. I expect it to be interesting. After the Hampton Inn issues, I expect this next election to be citizens vs small businesses and developers. Whoever raises the most money will win. That's the way Walton politics seem to roll....

Last I heard from her she wasn't going to run again.

Developers have always had "their guys" in races. Some of the candidates and backers ended up with ethics violations and fines. Puppets make the worst politicians.

 

[graytonbeachguy]

Truman: Taking your statement as truth, maybe some of the "anti-developers" should support candidates that don't step all over themselves when they assume office. What does that say about the people that support the "non-puppets." Not slamming you, just saying that by your calculus, the "good guys" keep turning into "bad guys." Exhibit #1: Pedophile Lane Rees. Kinda indicates the "developers" may actually be the grown ups in the room.

 

[Misty]

Ya know...regardless of who the players are in this, who ratted out who, whether you like or dislike the politicians or the State Attorney (personally, I don't like most of them) at the end of the day something good has already come out of this. Aside from the money not being recoverable, the Grand Jury sent a very clear message to the BCC about micro-managing County employees, how they are expected to conduct themselves and that County employees need to be able to do their job without fear of retaliation. That ones a biggie for me because I have always contended retaliation in Walton County is real and employee fears are justified. You just don't know how real it is until you have been on the receiving end of it.

But the best part of this is that the County has been instructed or its been recommended that they conduct and operational and forensic audit. The BCC owes that to the Citizens of this County who pay their salaries. If they don't follow through it would strongly suggest to most people there is more to hide.

Get it done Commissioners, you owe it to all of us!!

 

[Sun Chaser]

Now WHY is Commissioner Meadows so interested in the Planning Department? Answer that.