Alicia Leonard
SoWal Insider
I got to meet Andy this afternoon and he did a really good job on this. The sound system was bad and it was hard to hear at times. We both had deadlines and had to get this in quick tonight. My article will come out tomorrow in the Herald.
Good job, Andy
Ralph Johnson did not show up for a public hearing he had requested
Andy Meinen
Tuesday February 26th, 2008
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DeFUNIAK SPRINGS ? Walton County Sheriff Ralph Johnson was a no-show Tuesday at a public hearing that he requested two weeks ago to ask the County Commission for a budget amendment.
In his place, Johnson sent Sheriff?s Office Capt. Eddie Farris, who asked commissioners to approve an additional $311,431 to the Sheriff?s Office budget for 911 equipment.
The commission voted unanimously to deny the request.
Farris said the Sheriff?s Office had a contract with Motorola Corp. to upgrade its 911 equipment because the old system was obsolete. Farris said a contract was initiated in August to buy the new equipment, but because of ?delays and the equipment having to be built and put together? the money for the new system had to be handed back to the county at the end of the fiscal year in October.
The Sheriff?s Office returned nearly $700,000 in excess funds about two weeks ago from last year?s budget to the Walton County Clerk of Court, which is required by law. The money was given back nearly four months after it should have been.
Commission Chairman Larry Johnson said he was concerned about the Sheriff?s Office asking for more money, when it had a surplus last year. When Farris was asked if the Sheriff?s Office would have the same surplus this year because the same budget was approved, Farris said that only Johnson could answer that.
Farris said the 911 system is in place and operational, but he added that no money had been paid on the contract.
After the meeting, Farris said Johnson got tied up at the office and couldn?t make it to the meeting. When asked what the next step was for the Sheriff?s Office and if it could pay for the new system, Farris said that only Johnson could answer those questions.
Commissioner Sara Commander said the commission shouldn?t give the Sheriff?s Office more money until an audit of Johnson?s books comes out next month.
Several men in the gallery spoke during the public hearing.
Sonny Heath said that the county should watch over the Sheriff?s Office budget more closely.
?This entire thing smells of impropriety to me,? he said.
But Commissioner Cindy Meadows said that constitutional officers? budgets are not the responsibility of the commission. When the commission approves an officer?s budget, it?s up each officer to spend the money, unless it?s for a capital project.
Interim County Attorney Mike Burke said that if the Sheriff?s Office spends more than $200,000 on a capital project such as a building, then the commission must approve it. But the money for the 911 equipment is considered ?goods and services? and doesn?t require commissioners? approval, Burke said.
DeFuniak Springs resident Tom Terrell was upset that Johnson didn?t show to a public hearing he had requested.
?I think it is unbelievable, unconscionable that the constitutional officer chose not to meet with the board of county commissioners on an item that was this important,? he said. ?Now maybe some people don?t think $311,000 is very important. I tend to think it is extremely important, and to send someone else to represent him I think is beyond belief.?
Terrell recommended that the commission should get a state auditor to review the Sheriff?s Office?s books.
Daily News Staff Writer Andy Meinen can be reached at 654-6905.
Good job, Andy
Ralph Johnson did not show up for a public hearing he had requested
Andy Meinen
Tuesday February 26th, 2008
Comment on this Story | Read Comments
DeFUNIAK SPRINGS ? Walton County Sheriff Ralph Johnson was a no-show Tuesday at a public hearing that he requested two weeks ago to ask the County Commission for a budget amendment.
In his place, Johnson sent Sheriff?s Office Capt. Eddie Farris, who asked commissioners to approve an additional $311,431 to the Sheriff?s Office budget for 911 equipment.
The commission voted unanimously to deny the request.
Farris said the Sheriff?s Office had a contract with Motorola Corp. to upgrade its 911 equipment because the old system was obsolete. Farris said a contract was initiated in August to buy the new equipment, but because of ?delays and the equipment having to be built and put together? the money for the new system had to be handed back to the county at the end of the fiscal year in October.
The Sheriff?s Office returned nearly $700,000 in excess funds about two weeks ago from last year?s budget to the Walton County Clerk of Court, which is required by law. The money was given back nearly four months after it should have been.
Commission Chairman Larry Johnson said he was concerned about the Sheriff?s Office asking for more money, when it had a surplus last year. When Farris was asked if the Sheriff?s Office would have the same surplus this year because the same budget was approved, Farris said that only Johnson could answer that.
Farris said the 911 system is in place and operational, but he added that no money had been paid on the contract.
After the meeting, Farris said Johnson got tied up at the office and couldn?t make it to the meeting. When asked what the next step was for the Sheriff?s Office and if it could pay for the new system, Farris said that only Johnson could answer those questions.
Commissioner Sara Commander said the commission shouldn?t give the Sheriff?s Office more money until an audit of Johnson?s books comes out next month.
Several men in the gallery spoke during the public hearing.
Sonny Heath said that the county should watch over the Sheriff?s Office budget more closely.
?This entire thing smells of impropriety to me,? he said.
But Commissioner Cindy Meadows said that constitutional officers? budgets are not the responsibility of the commission. When the commission approves an officer?s budget, it?s up each officer to spend the money, unless it?s for a capital project.
Interim County Attorney Mike Burke said that if the Sheriff?s Office spends more than $200,000 on a capital project such as a building, then the commission must approve it. But the money for the 911 equipment is considered ?goods and services? and doesn?t require commissioners? approval, Burke said.
DeFuniak Springs resident Tom Terrell was upset that Johnson didn?t show to a public hearing he had requested.
?I think it is unbelievable, unconscionable that the constitutional officer chose not to meet with the board of county commissioners on an item that was this important,? he said. ?Now maybe some people don?t think $311,000 is very important. I tend to think it is extremely important, and to send someone else to represent him I think is beyond belief.?
Terrell recommended that the commission should get a state auditor to review the Sheriff?s Office?s books.
Daily News Staff Writer Andy Meinen can be reached at 654-6905.
