East Tennessee Libertarian Party to meet Thursday at Dead End BBQ

The East Tennessee Libertarian Party plans to meet Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Dead End BBQ on Sutherland Avenue with U.S. Rep. Jimmy Duncan, Jr. Rep. Duncan serving as guest speaker.

Anyone interested is welcome to attend and please bring any questions you have about our presidential candidate, Gary Johnson, or libertarianism in general, the news release states.

The East Tennessee Libertarian Party includes Knox, Blount, Sevier, Loudon, and Anderson Counties. The Libertarian Party is the fastest growing political party and the only one that supports the principles of Liberty. The party says it's philosophy is: “Minimum government, Maximum Freedom."

Rep. Duncan to speak at Center City Conservatives Republican Club

U.S. Rep John J. Duncan, Jr. will speak at the Center City Conservatives Republican Club during its monthly meeting on Aug. 25.

Club members will begin gathering at 5:45 p.m. at the Shoney's located at 4410 Western Avenue in Knoxville. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.

The groups Facebook page is RIGHT HERE. You also can follow on Twitter RIGHT HERE.

As always, shoot your political stuff my way for publication consideration.

More than dozen qualify for state, federal, Farragut elections

State Rep. Martin Daniel – whose recent comments about ISIS recruitment placed him at the center of recent controversy – has drawn three opponents in his re-election bid for the 18th District seat.

He is the only local state House member whose seat is up this term who faces a challenger in the Aug. 4 state primary.

The deadline to qualify for this summer’s state and federal primaries was noon Thursday.

As it stands, there are seven state House seats, one state Senate seat and one Congressional House seat up for grabs.

In addition, the town of Farragut, which holds its election on the same day, has two races for alderman seats.

Here’s a snapshot of those contests: 

• No one challenged long-time Republican Congressman John Duncan Jr in the primary but he will face Stuart Starr, a Democrat from Loudon County, in the Nov. 8 general election.
   
• No one challenged Duncan’s sister, Becky Duncan Massey, for her 6th District state Senate seat in either the primary or general election.
   
• Local Legislative delegation Chairman Eddie Smith, who is in his first term, does not have an opponent in the primary for the 13th District seat. But, he will face his predecessor Gloria Johnson, a Democrat, in the November general election, which sets up a rematch from 2014.
   
• No one qualified to run against Republican Jason Zachary, who won a special election last year for the 14thDistrict seat. However, he will face Democrat Scott Hacker in the general election.
   
• Joe Armstrong, the only Democrat in the local Legislative delegation, doesn't have an opponent for the 15th District seat in the primary. But, he faces perennial candidate and independent Pete Drew in November. However, Armstrong also is scheduled to go on trial Aug. 2 for charges of tax evasion and defrauding the IRS in connection with an alleged cigarette tax scheme.
   
• 16th District state Rep. Bill Dunn doesn’t have any opposition in either the primary or general election; nor does 19th District state Rep. Harry Brooks.
   
• 89th District state Rep. Roger Kane will not face an opponent in the primary, but Democrat Heather Hensley qualified to challenge him in November.

In Farragut, Ward 1 incumbent Louise Povlin, the owner of Anytime Fitness and a member of the Farragut Municipal Planning Commission, will face Richard Cataldi, a career military officer and former member of the town’s planning committee.

No one qualified to challenge Ron Williams for the Ward II seat.

The Farragut elections are non-partisan.

Most of the state candidates probably won’t begin campaigning heavily for another few months.

That more than likely won’t be the case for the 18th District state House seat currently held by Martin.

Martin, a Knoxville Republican in his first term, will face Steve Hall, his predecessor whom he narrowly defeated two years ago for the seat; Bryan Dodson, a pizza deliverer and former political adviser to ex-state Sen. Stacey Campfield; and local attorney James Corcoran.

The winner will face Democrat Brandi Price, an attorney, in the November general election.

Duncan putting ordeal behind him

Former Trustee John Duncan III, who officially completed the terms of his judicial diversion yesterday, sent over the following comments:

I'm thankful for all of the kind words of support and encouragement I've received today. I'm also thankful that the case has been dismissed and I can finally put this whole ordeal behind me.

The decision to plead a year ago was extremely difficult for me. My dad and my attorney, Jeff Hagood, both strongly recommended that I go to trial and fight the charges. They both believe we would have won. However, I just couldn't put my family or myself through the emotional roller coaster of a trial when I knew the entire case would eventually be dismissed, as it was today.

His father, U.S. House Rep. Jimmy Duncan, also weighed in:

I'm glad the case was dismissed and I am proud of John. For many years before coming to Congress, I was a lawyer and a Judge. After studying the facts of this case, I don't believe he ever should have been charged in the first place. At worst, he made an honest mistake. I will always believe that this case was motivated by some personal and political vendettas against me and our family. Like Jeff Hagood, I encouraged John to go to trial, where I believe his name would have been cleared entirely.

Phone poll regarding the GOP races

Well, that was interesting. I just got polled on my cell (hey, who really owns a land line anymore). Was asked five questions.

They wanted to know:

1. Whether I would vote for Lamar Alexander or Joe Carr in the U.S. Senate race (or if I was undecided)
2. Whether I would vote for Jimmy Duncan or (some name I didn't catch) for the U.S. Congress seat (or if I was undecided)
3. Whether I had a favorable opinion (or something like that) of Gov. Big Bill (or if I was unsure)
4. Whether I had a favorable opinion of Lamar Alexander (or if I was unsure)
5. Whether I had a favorable opinion of Sen. Bob Corker (or if I was unsure)

Anyhoo, for the record, I put punished "Three" each time for unsure or undecided, which means I'm going to be in the that "plus or minus (insert number) percent" category.

Heh.

Should have called someone who cared.

BOE candidate Bounds to continue campaigning; backed by Vaughn

Not a whole lot of substance but here’s a statement from Patti Lou Bounds who is your new District 7 Board of Education member as of Sept. 1.

“I didn’t foresee Mr. Smith withdrawing from the race but we will continue the campaign as it started and that is to reach out to the residents of the 7^th District, identify their concerns, and make the educational experience the best possible for the parents, children, teachers and the administration. After all, the children are our future.”

I should note that the statement came from Bill Vaughn, a long-time political operative for the John Duncan family. (He is managing her campaign.) And while, I’m not sure what interest the Duncans would have in the school board races, I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t mind putting the ol’ screws to R. Larry.

Poster to R. Larry: 'Get over it'

Woo-hoo, oh boy, ol R. Larry Smith had another good one in today's News Sentinel.

After last night's meeting, in which the board talked about travel, KNS reporter Gerald Witt asked Smith why he drove to Nashville twice (which cost taxpayers $416 when - presumably - he could have picked up a phone and called).

According to the article (right smack here), Smith "said "he went to the state comptroller on a whistle-blowing trip that led to the ouster of former Trustee John J. Duncan III."

Ummmmm. No.

That office has nothing to do with CTAS payments, which were the cause of Duncan's downfall.

Further, R. Larry got almost all his information from the articles I wrote. Whistle-blower. Sure.

I broke the story, I first reported that someone else took tests for Duncan, and I was the first to write about the TBI investigation into the office.

I am not bragging. That's just what happened.

Along with the way WBIR also did some good reporting. They even had a scoop or two in there. Also, I think WATE reported about a showdown between Smith and Congressman Duncan, which Smith probably blew out of proportion, but whatever.

Anyhoo, I say this because, well, someone has to tell the truth. The investigation originated from the local District Attorney's Office. Not R. Larry Smith.

In the meantime, there were some fireworks from last night. You see, after Commissioner Amy Broyles nominated someone other than R. Larry to lead the board, he got upset. Right around that time he started trying to sell his story to the press that she traveled more than any other commissioner. (Another lie by the way.) A few news outlet bit.

But it didn't work out the way R. Larry anticipated. As noted from the pic below (taken during last night's meting.)

On a side note, Amy had the best line of the night when she told R. Larry: “Since being elected to commission, I have survived a shooting, two brain surgeries, a concussion, five cerebrospinal fluid leaks, viral meningitis, eight kidney stones, a tumor removed from my upper chest, a uterine hemorrhage and the beginning of menopause. I don’t think I’m going to succumb to one of your temper tantrums.” (Thanks for writing all that down, Gerald.)

Quick look at Monday's work session

The Knox County Commission on Monday agreed during its work session to hire an internal auditor.

Officials expect to post the job in the coming weeks.

In other commission news:

The board unanimously recommended Commissioner Mike Brown and Knox County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Carl King to serve as non-voting liaisons to the Knox County Ethics Committee.

In an 8-3 vote approved a resolution expressing support of a national flat fee tax on Internet sales.  The proposal originated from the discussion of the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013, which gives states the authorities to streamline sales tax laws and collect taxes directly from online retailers. If approved during next Monday’s meeting, the Knox County Clerk’s office will send a copy of the resolution to U.S. Congressman Jimmy Duncan Jr. Commission Vice Chairman R. Larry Smith and commissioners Amy Broyles and Dave Wright dissented.

Unanimously recommended to transfer just over 391 acres in the Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge to the state to use as a state park. More details will be announced on Friday during the Legacy Parks luncheon.

Click right smack here for the entire story.

Looking ahead to commission meeting

Remember that whole Seven Islands thing that some folks wanted to keep secret so Gov. Big Bill (yeah, I called him “Big Bill,” Betty, so get over it) could make the grand announcement? Well, right smack here to download the resolution that the Knox County Commission will discuss during Monday’s work session.

It says the state “has expressed an interest in establishing a state park” there to “further benefit the health and welfare of the” area.

It also notes that the state “plans to make a significant financial investment in the Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge to improve its facilities and to make the property even more of a benefit to the health and welfare of the public.”

Anyhoo, what else do we have for Monday’s meeting (which I don’t expect to last all that long)?

Well, looks like Commissioner Mike Hammond has a couple of items toward the end for discussion. 

He wants to talk about why Johnny Haun hasn’t paid any coin “toward his embezzlement of money.” As you might recall, Haun turned himself over to authorities back in April 2012. He’s accused of lifting a bunch of folding paper from the Trustee’s Office a looong time ago. Hammond brings this up periodically, but not sure a whole lot will happen until Haun pleads out, which he is expected to do.

His attorney has told me over the years that he does plan to pay back the county. 

Additionally, Hammond wants to talk about the possible realignment of commission districts. There’s been some talk about increasing the 11-member board or even decreasing it, so that there are no at-large seats.

I doubt this will get far right now. During the last realignment (what, like a year ago?), the commission got everything (nine districts) matched up with its counterparts in the school system. Of course, there has been some talk about maybe increasing the school board from nine to 11 members, so who knows? 

The commission also is expected to rubberstamp a recommendation by the Audit Committee to start the hiring process for a new internal auditor. In the meantime, Tracy Wright, who works in the office, will take over until someone new is brought on board.

I wrote a story the other day about the recommendations. Find that bad boy, right smack here.

(By the way, looks like the commission also will appoint former school board member Cindy Buttry to the Knox County Board of Zoning Appeals. Congrats to her.)

Ah, what else is there? Oh yeah, the commission also will talk about whether to approve a resolution expressing its support of the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013, which allows more individual states the authority to streamline sales tax laws and collect the taxes directly from online retailers.

They would send this to U.S. Congressman Jimmy Duncan Jr. 

I got a newsletter from the good Congressman the other day. In it, he noted that he’s not exactly sure where he stands on this one. (Sure he’s not.)

Download that resolution, right smack here.

I’m out.

More on the $300K thing, ObamaCare

There's some interesting spin going on (and one media outlet kind of messed up some stuff) about this whole ObamaCare thing and what the county owes. It's not just Knox County, folks. Anyhoo, here's a little more from the documents included in yesterday's post, right smack here, and from an email I got from the county's health insurance consultant (nope, not sharing that one, cause I'm greedy).

Sooooo, yes, Knox County this year is on the hook for almost $300,000 in “transitional reinsurance” fees tied to the Affordable Care Act, typically known as ObamaCare.

In addition, it will also have to make payments – 5.25 per member per month – each of the next two years.

Right now, the county has 4,700 members, including spouses and dependents, on its plan, so the amount owed will fluctuate as people join and leave, said county Finance Director Chris Caldwell.

The money at this point will come from the county's health insurance reserve fund, which stands at about $500,000. However, the administration wants to put up to $4 million in expected surplus revenues into it, once officials close the current fiscal year books, which will more than likely be in late August or early September.

The county's plan covers general county workers, fee office employees and the Sheriff's Office.

Humana, the county's third-party administrator, will actually collect the fee, and turn it over to the federal government.

The transitional reinsurance program will require all self-insured group health plans and health insurance issues – not just Knox County – to pay the per-enrollee fees.

In a note to county officials, Drew Mann, the county's health insurance consultant, told officials that the fees “are intended to stabilize premiums in the individual market for the first three years that the exchanges are in effect.”

He added that they will be used to make “payments to health insurance issuers that cover high-risk individuals in the individual market.”

In a letter sent June 10 to U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan, who does not support the affordable care act, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett complained about the fee, calling it an “unintended consequence.”

He added: “It is a shame that the Obama Administration seems intent on punishing conscientious, self-insured organizations like Knox County to expand healthcare coverage to some who do not even want it.”

ObamaCare fees to cost Knox $300K

Looks like the county will have to ante up almost 300K in clams to cover a fee tied to the Affordable Care Act.

I'm certainly not going to get into whether this is a lot of money or not because it would mean debating the merits of ObamaCare and, quite frankly, both sides annoy me.

I did, however, chuckle after reading a letter Mayor Tim Burchett's sent to Congressman Duncan for no apparent reason other than to get some media coverage. He notes that Duncan didn't vote for the measure, then laments that it will cost the county money. (Like he didn't know this. Seriously. It's not a secret.)

Then Burchett tells the good Congressman that if he wants to learn more about it, he can call his office. Er . . . . . .

You can read the letter, which was no doubt authored by emperor Dean Rice and his underlings, right smack here.

The train wreck of a radio interview the two conducted this morning is more than likely somewhere on the Internet. Although it's no where near as funny as this one that has been floating around.

No word yet on how much the city, which also is self-insured, will have to spend. Probably a similar amount.

Grider touts Veterans Service office

Ol' "Big Sexy" Michael Grider spent the morning haunting my editor, trying to get some coverage of this ribbon cutting thing-a-ma-jig that we blew off. But, just cause Grider is a good guy, we'll run a brief based on his spin job. (Check out tomorrow's paper for something about a Veterans Service office opening.)

Anyhoo, that's not really on my mind. I just found it curious, though, that Grider, who is paid about $6 bucks an hour because he works for the county's biggest cheapskate, actually managed to put out a release. On top of that, he quoted his boss, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, in it. (He left out everyone else, but, hey, that ain't the dude's job.)

However, and because he's such a nice guy, Big Sexy mentions that Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, Congressman John J. Duncan Jr. and a bunch of people I've never heard of also were at the little shin dig.

This got me to thinking: Why the other parties issue their own spin jobs? They certainly got the paid staff to do it.

Heh. Score one for the big guy.

Larry Smith, Sherry Witt bonus battle

Commissioner Rrrrr. Larry Smith (left) has been somewhat on a roll lately, calling out the county's trustee and his father, the good local Congressman.

Now, he's got his sites set on Register of Deeds Sherry Witt. In fact, the good commissioner sent Sherry a note, taking her to task for accepting some incentive payments, yet wanting to meet with her to discuss the issue.

Witt's response?

“The letter is at the bottom of my bird cage,” she told me.

Heh. Now, that's funny.

Soooo, what's going on?

If you haven't been living in a cave lately (or a jerk like someone who would post comments under a stupid name like “YankeeinDixie”), then you know that county Trustee John Duncan III is under fire right now because he paid himself and some staffers a bunch of coin for doing work they didn't really do.

At the same time, Witt and a number of other elected fee officers also accepted such payments, but they actually did do the work.

(Now, to get the payments you have to get designated as a “certified public administrator.” I've written about this; no point rehashing it. To keep your certification, you have to do 16 hours of coursework, or whatever each year. Then you're allowed up to $3,000 in coin.)

Argghh Larry, however, questions whether local officials should take the money, even if they've done the work.

So, he's been checking around the state, asking other folks whether they participate in the education program and collect the coin. He apparently talked to the Hamblen County trustee, yet thought he talked to the Hamilton County trustee.

So, he goes around telling people he talked to someone from Hamilton County and says that they receive only $200 in bonuses.

Now, Sherry (right) did some checking on her own.

She called Hamilton and learned that Our Larry never talked to anyone from the Chattanooga area. So, she called out the commissioner during Monday's work session, pretty much insinuating that he was full of crap.

Then, Larry did some checking and realized his mistake. (He had actually talked to Hamblen and they get $200 in bonuses.)

So, he then gets in touch with Hamilton County (for real this time) and the trustee there tells him that he gets $0 in bonuses.

Larry, then calls out Sherry and accuses her of telling half-truths.

Good stuff.

He then pens her a note – click right smack here for that bad boy – and says that her “personal attack on my character (was) absolutely uncalled for, discourteous, and beneath your position as an elected official.”

He also says that accepting the incentive payments “is an affront to the taxpayers we serve.”

(I'm not sure if other fee officers who also get the incentive payments got a similar letter. Probably not.)

Sherry, though, isn't having any of this. And she probably won't be meeting any time soon with R. Larry.

“It's all about media attention for him,” she said, noting that the reason the Hamilton County trustee doesn't take the money is because he isn't certified. “I'm sorry he's offended but he should check out the validity of his statements.”

Heh.

Like I said: good stuff.

Commish Smith and the Duncans. Heh.

Commissioner Arrghhhhh Larry Smith must have heard about my blog post regarding our brief discussion about whether the good Congressman called him, regarding the good Trustee.

(I know Channel 6 did. They turned it into an entire story the other night. Heh.)

Here's the initial post right smack here. In it, I make note that it appeared that Rrrrr. Larry was ducking me. He called me a few hours after I posted the blog and he told me what U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr. said to him. I wrote it down, then forgot to blog it cause all heck broke loose in the Trustee's Office.

Sooooo, here's what we talked about late Wednesday morning:

Smith: “They called me to his office and he told me to stay away from his son and that he had done nothing wrong?”

Me: “Who told you?”

Smith: “The Congressman, Jimmy Duncan.”

Me: “Why?”

Smith: “I don't know, but I was in there for about 15 minutes and he said it three different times: Stay away from my son. So, I'm thinking in the back of my mind: Does that mean I don't have to pay taxes anymore?”

Me: “Hahahahahahahaha. Good one. Good one.”

Smith: “He also said I'm the one who leaked it (the story about Trustee John Duncan III offering to pay back bonuses he and his staff collected tied to coursework they didn't complete). I didn't leak it to the press. You called me.”

Me: “Yeah, that's true, they've been throwing out names to who leaked what, trying to figure out what sticks. Not sure what difference it makes. They must not support the whistle blower law or something.”

Smith: “Well, I'm wondering why they're mad at me. I'm trying to help his son. He (the good Congressman) couldn't relate to that. It wouldn't sink in.”

On Thursday (that's today), the good Commissioner called me to add one more thing: “(The good Congressman) told me three different times that I should stay away. Another time he phrased it by saying it would be a personal favor (if he stayed away).”

Now, from what I understand, the Congressman has called all of this hogwash.

I'm sure there's a little truth on both sides.

Heh.

Trustee's workers to pay back half - not all

UPDATE: Please note that the following entry is based off the recommendations of the finance department. After it was posted, The good Trustee John Duncan III sent me a message, noting as such. He said the office has yet to discuss it with him. "I am writing a check for $6,000. Everyone is expected to return both payments," Duncan said.

Although pay day for county employees is this Friday, the folks over in the Trustee's Office won't begin paying back their interest free loans (I mean, bonuses they received two years in a row for not completing a government-related course) until early February.

In the meantime, there is one dude who got “only” $3,000 in coin in 2010 (and who also didn't complete the class)who is no longer working in the office so he won’t be paying back jack. I mean John. Blood from a turnip and all that.

As for the rest who are still employed? All but one of them cashed $6,000 in “incentive” checks (that's two checks each). So, according to the good Trustee, they’ll pay all that back. Right?

No. They won’t. Not really.

Most will pay back half, or $3,000 in which the county’s payroll department will take a little from each check.

Then, the employees will complete the course work this spring and forgo their next $3,000 payment that they are allowed to get next fiscal year. (Please note that this free money is not mandated.)

This proposal – pay back half and not get a bonus next year – sort of makes sense and it doesn’t, I suppose. Because, let’s face it – once they complete the coursework – they’re going to keep getting those checks forever.

So, there’s no point in making the workers pay back $6,000, just to hand them back another $3,000.

Of course it would have made a whole heck of a lot more sense to have the employees graduate from the program first and then pay them. But, the Trustee’s Office feels that state guidelines only “recommend” that the employees finish first before getting paid.

“A misconception that has arisen since this issue was brought to the public's attention is the scope of the State statute, which is nothing more than a recommendation,” Trustee John Duncan III wrote to the News Sentinel.

(Please note also that the Knox County Trustee’s Office appears to be the only governmental entity in the entire state that actually believes this.)

I suppose the next time I get clocked doing 90 miles per hour in a school zone, I’m going to tell the cop that the speed limit is nothing more than a recommendation.

Commissioner Smith vs. Trustee's Office

In other related Trustee Office news, the whole interest free loan/bonus/incentive issue was moot on Monday during the County Commission’s work session.

Commissioner Rrrrrr. Larry Smith (inside joke – thanks Scott McNutt) asked the commission to hold off discussion until next Monday.

In a move often imitated by the county’s Trustee, Smith gave conflicting reasons for the delay. On the dais, he told fellow commissioners that he wanted the finance department or human resources (I don’t remember which one at this point) to provide him with a list of everyone who received a check and for how much.

We actually reported that a few days before Christmas: Click right smack here.

After the meeting, Smith told Channel 10 reporter Hillary I don’t remember her last name that he held off because next Monday the good folks from CTAS will talk to commissioners about the education program. (CTAS administers the program that officials are supposed to complete in order to get that good money.)

And that’s about the time I said: “Hey Larry, got a question.”

Smith: “Yeah, buddy?”

Me: “Can you talk about the conversation you had with Congressman Duncan. I heard John Duncan’s (as in Trustee John Duncan III) dad called you and a few commissioners. He didn’t put the fear of God in you, now did he?

Smith: (Big smile)

He then looks at Hillary and says: “Do you play softball?”

I’m not kidding.

Strange.

Thanks to Dan Andrews for reminding me that this even happened.

Lobetti has two years to pay back coin

Yesterday, I noted how I had a bunch of scribblings left from Monday's pension board meeting. Good stuff. Heh.

Anyhoo, awhile back political operative Robert M. “Mose” Lobetti had a little debate with the board over some coin members say he owes.

Halls Shopper reporter Betty Bean wrote about it right smack here. Essentially, Mose, who has worked behind the scenes (and not so behind the scenes) on a number of political campaigns, including the recent failed effort by Mark Padgett to gain the Knoxville mayoral seat, is on the Uniformed Officers Pension Plan.

Yup, same plan that voters thought was for deputies, jailers and overall ass-kicking law enforcement officers out there risking their lives every day because they don't make a whole heck of a lot of money. But, yeah, he's on it, cause bailiffs (which are technically called courtroom security officers) are on it.

(Forgot one thing: Mose has also been involved in some Congressional races for the Duncans, but, uh, a trained monkey could run that family's campaign. They don't lose. In fact, if a Duncan doesn't get 80 percent of the vote, it's an upset. But, I digress.)

Soooo, some folks were pretty shocked that he's on the plan and owes some money. Again, read Bean's story for the background because I'm just jumping into what followed on Monday. Cause it's silly. And we like silly at Screams from da Porch.

Entertainment at the expense of others and all that.

(By the way, this guys is more connected to the incestuous relationships inside the Deathstar than then brick and mortar that hold the building together. So, if you think I'm picking on him – and I'm not – I don't really care. Public figure and all that. Plus, he goes around, wanting people to refer to him as “The Godfather.”)

So, the pension board/office wants the old dude to pay pack $13,000. (He should have paid it back a long time ago but, due to an “oversight,” he wasn't informed until – I think – earlier this year.)

That's the $11K he took out, plus some interest and 7.5 percent rate of return on investments even thought – during the lifetime of the UOPP – the rates have come in at negative 3.12, according to third quarter – it ended Sept. 30 – reports. (That was a mouthful.)

Heh. Good deal for the pension system. Bad deal for Mose. Now, Mose, 82, doesn't want to pay this back. And I don't blame him. But, if he doesn't, then he's not going to get the full benefits of the UOPP until the coin gets returned.

His attorney, Steve Sharp, also doesn't want him to have to pay it back. Can't blame him, either, since he's paid to not want Mose to have to pay it back.

Said Sharp: “Mr. Lobetti is not a wealthy man and $13,000 is a lot of money.”

Now, the pension board is willing to work with them. Members suggested giving him two years to pay it back. In monthly installments. (That would be $531.666 a month.)

Mose, visibly disgusted, didn't like that.

“They (the pension office) have known this for four years and didn't tell me, but I'm not blaming anybody,” he told the board.

Say what?

Mose, who makes $44,116.28 in annual salary, added: “It's going to be rough if I have to pay back (the money) every month. It may put me in bankruptcy.”

Now, historically, officials said, those transferred to the UOPP “had six months to repay any distributions to reinstate the time in the UOPP.”

Mose at one point also asked whether he could pay back part of the coin with a $10,000 life insurance policy or something or other he's had since 1950 when he served in the U.S. Navy.

Pension Board attorney Richard Beeler told him that wasn't gonna fly – no, he can't sign over a policy to the county.

Apparently frustrated, Mose told the board that when he joined the pension plan he turned over $130,000.

He made this out to be a big deal. Let me tell you something: That $130,000 isn't jack.

Under the Sheriff's Office defined benefit plan he's going to get $33,087 a year in retirement, plus a 3 percent cost of living adjustment each year. That's 75 percent of his total salary.

Now, how much a year do you think he's gonna get with that $130,000, which no doubt would be worth about 5 cents (give or take a penny) right now because of the stock market?

That's what I thought.

Now, people might think I'm being harsh, but, seriously, quit your whining.

Additionally, some folks at the meeting (and Mose a few months ago) made it out that Mose just HAD to take that $11,000 payout – that it was just forced right on into his wallet.

Nope. According to pension board executive director Kim Bennett, he received the minimal required distribution, but because he was employed, “it technically wasn't required that he take it.”

So, round and around we go.

Now, Mose says he doesn't understand “why I have to pay the interest.”

Uh . . . . Huh?

He said if the board gave him two years, then he'd pay back the $11,000. (Screw the interest or whatever, I suppose.)

Huh? So, make up your mind. Do you have the coin or not? What are you gonna do between now and then to raise $11K?

Never mind, don't answer that.

Eventually county commissioner and pension board member Richard Briggs wanted this mess to end. He said $13K was “a big chunk of money if you don't anticipate it or get blindsided by it.

He suggested giving Mose two years to repay it “with one stipulant (that's French by the way for “stipulating”): That he can't die in two years.”

He was kidding.

If Mose does, then the coin (which we will now refer to as “debt”) will be taken out of his death benefits that will be passed along to whoever.

So, the board – which at one point had no idea what it was voting to approve – agreed to give the guy two years to pay back what will eventually be more than $13K. Mose said he'll pay it in one lump sum at that time.

Bennett said her office will recalculate the coin and come back with the exact amount of scratch later. It's going to be more than $13K, but she has two years to come up with the new number.

In the meantime, Mose ain't gonna die. He'll make sure Congressman Jimmy Duncan gets a law passed to prevent that from happening.