Telephone Poll for WCSO

[Bob Wells]

Just had a call for a telephone survey. They were asking questions related to Walton County Sheriffs Office. Questions like, am I satisfied, if I think budget cuts should happen to them vs other departments, whether I thought they should run the jail, satisfaction with 911 and the like.

Now my question is, who is paying for this survey and seeing how it is pretty obvious that it is Sheriff department related?

As for who runs the jail, I will say this, currently the jail is run by the BCC. The jail seems to be a political hot potato and it is usually over the budget. If memory serves me correctly, Ralph gave it back to the BCC because he wanted more money, seems Quinn did too. I would not want to work there if I was going to change my employer every budget year.

 

[30ashopper]

I had the same call. Honestly I didn't know the jail was run by the BCC, I thought it was run by the state. My view was, I haven't heard of any trouble with the jail, so I assumed it was being run well and no change was needed.

Wish I could remember the name of the policy institute they mentioned at the beginning doing the poll, but can't.

 

[idlewind]

Maybe the Taxpayers Association can find out why county government is paying for a poll to justify a county department getting more taxpayer dollars. They obviously need more to do more surveys.

 

[Andy A]

I will only say this.
If you haven't attended one of Sheriff Atkinson's town hall meetings and are interested in what is going on Walton County regarding law enforcement, do so. It is extremely well presented and informative. I have no comment on the telephone survey one way or the other as I wasn't called. I have a strong feeling it was not authorized by the Sheriff's office as Sheriff Atkinson has been totally open about the goings on in his office and is holding town hall meetings all over the county. His tenure, so far, is so superior in both operation, policy and goals, to the previous sheriff's administration that it isn't even worth talking about.

 

[Bob Wells]

I will only say this.
If you haven't attended one of Sheriff Atkinson's town hall meetings and are interested in what is going on Walton County regarding law enforcement, do so. It is extremely well presented and informative. I have no comment on the telephone survey one way or the other as I wasn't called. I have a strong feeling it was not authorized by the Sheriff's office as Sheriff Atkinson has been totally open about the goings on in his office and is holding town hall meetings all over the county. His tenure, so far, is so superior in both operation, policy and goals, to the previous sheriff's administration that it isn't even worth talking about.

As someone who did not vote for the current Sheriff, I think he has done an excellent job. As I stated this was a telephone survey/ poll and beause all the questions were related to the Sheriffs department budget concerns and public safety and the jail I thought I would throw it out there. As for who sponsored/ paid for it I am curious about its purpose and reasons behind it. As for the Town Hall meetings, I have heard positive things about them.

 

[scooterbug44]

Apparently Scott Brannon is behind the push to change this. (Which IMO means he has a contributor/crony who will benefit financially from the switch.)

Didn't our jail just win an award or something? I know that there was a thread on here recently talking about how we are now certified and how changes were saving us (the taxpayers) a great deal of money.

Edit: here it is! Little odd that a couple months ago Brannon was there to accept an award for the place and is now wanting to change how it is run.

"County Jail is now state accredited
Feb 2, 2010 As of today the Walton County Dept. of Corrections is state accredited. Below is a letter to the corrections staff on the accomplishment:

To All Corrections Staff:
It?s Official! The Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission voted this morning to fully accredit the Walton County Department of Corrections with 100% compliance of all standards. BCC Commission Chairman Scott Brannon, County Administrator Lyle Seigler, Deputy Director Stan Sunday and I were on hand to accept on behalf of all the staff of the Department. The Commission and Assessors were very complimentary of our operations and the progress that we have made in the last three years. As a result we are the first local criminal Justice agency in Walton County history to be accredited by anyone.

This accomplishment is directly the result of the dedication and hard work that the staff of the department exhibits on a daily basis as well as the support and leadership of the Board of County Commissioners and the County Administration.

This accomplishment represents a great victory for the taxpayers of Walton County. In the three years since the BCC assumed operation of the county jail we have become 100% compliant of state standards, opened a brand new state of the art facility and cut operating costs almost 50%. We have also started GED programs for the inmates, expanded alcohol and drug abuse programs, entered into partnership with the State prison to grow vegetables which helps reduce costs and greatly expanded our vocational training programs for inmates. These vocational programs have resulted in hundreds of thousands dollars of savings to taxpayers through maintenance of the county bike paths, grass cutting at county buildings and assistance with Public Works. Recently we added inmate labor to help operate the new Animal Shelter.

All of these accomplishments are a result of your efforts and I sincerely appreciate each and every one of you. With your continued dedication and hard work we can continue to improve our service to the taxpayers of Walton County.

Danny Glidewell
Corrections Director, Walton County"

 

[wrobert]

Maybe the Taxpayers Association can find out why county government is paying for a poll to justify a county department getting more taxpayer dollars. They obviously need more to do more surveys.

Sounds like a job for Alicia. That is how she earns her bucks.

 

[wrobert]

Apparently Scott Brannon is behind the push to change this. (Which IMO means he has a contributor/crony who will benefit financially from the switch.)

Didn't our jail just win an award or something? I know that there was a thread on here recently talking about how we are now certified and how changes were saving us (the taxpayers) a great deal of money.

Edit: here it is! Little odd that a couple months ago Brannon was there to accept an award for the place and is now wanting to change how it is run.

"County Jail is now state accredited
Feb 2, 2010 As of today the Walton County Dept. of Corrections is state accredited. Below is a letter to the corrections staff on the accomplishment:

To All Corrections Staff:
It?s Official! The Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission voted this morning to fully accredit the Walton County Department of Corrections with 100% compliance of all standards. BCC Commission Chairman Scott Brannon, County Administrator Lyle Seigler, Deputy Director Stan Sunday and I were on hand to accept on behalf of all the staff of the Department. The Commission and Assessors were very complimentary of our operations and the progress that we have made in the last three years. As a result we are the first local criminal Justice agency in Walton County history to be accredited by anyone.

This accomplishment is directly the result of the dedication and hard work that the staff of the department exhibits on a daily basis as well as the support and leadership of the Board of County Commissioners and the County Administration.

This accomplishment represents a great victory for the taxpayers of Walton County. In the three years since the BCC assumed operation of the county jail we have become 100% compliant of state standards, opened a brand new state of the art facility and cut operating costs almost 50%. We have also started GED programs for the inmates, expanded alcohol and drug abuse programs, entered into partnership with the State prison to grow vegetables which helps reduce costs and greatly expanded our vocational training programs for inmates. These vocational programs have resulted in hundreds of thousands dollars of savings to taxpayers through maintenance of the county bike paths, grass cutting at county buildings and assistance with Public Works. Recently we added inmate labor to help operate the new Animal Shelter.

All of these accomplishments are a result of your efforts and I sincerely appreciate each and every one of you. With your continued dedication and hard work we can continue to improve our service to the taxpayers of Walton County.

Danny Glidewell
Corrections Director, Walton County"

Why would it be a bad thing IF the jail could be run more cost effectively by the SO instead of the BCC? We are going into this budget cycle another 8 million shy, and probably another 4 million shy next time. No one wants to raise taxes, especially in this economic climate. I find it commendable that Scott is out there looking for any and every penny he can find. Once that is done, then, and only then, will I think you see the public go along with a millage increase.

Except for schools, we should just go ahead and double that millage so we can pay teachers more.

And of course add another penny to the sales tax so we can pay the FF more money.

But other than that..............

 

[Bob Wells]

Why would it be a bad thing IF the jail could be run more cost effectively by the SO instead of the BCC? We are going into this budget cycle another 8 million shy, and probably another 4 million shy next time. No one wants to raise taxes, especially in this economic climate. I find it commendable that Scott is out there looking for any and every penny he can find. Once that is done, then, and only then, will I think you see the public go along with a millage increase.

Except for schools, we should just go ahead and double that millage so we can pay teachers more.

And of course add another penny to the sales tax so we can pay the FF more money.

But other than that..............

My only issue with this is if the budget issues don't get dealt with and the Sheriff decides he does not want the jail any longer, then what it becomes the BCC again. I have issues with that, and what was the cost when the BCC took it over the last time.

 

[Bob Wells]

Oh and all that other stuff, wow now I know you are an independent thinker and maybe politically also.